When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new guidelines requiring a city-wide inventory of water service lines to determine their material, our team immediately jumped into action. Our team has been working diligently to update policies, review data, inspect and inventory service lines, and ensure our compliance with these new regulations, all while maintaining high-quality water service.

“An incredible amount of effort and teamwork has gone into this service line verification project,” Madisson Dunn, Environmental and Regulatory Supervisor said. “We have the data to prove our water quality exceeds expectations. This is just one additional step to ensure that our high-quality water isn’t being impacted by lead or copper service lines.”

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“The release of our service line inventory is more than just a regulatory milestone,” Dunn explained. “It represents Southlake Water Utilities' commitment to transparency, safety, and ensuring that Southlake’s water supply remains of the highest quality. This tool will empower residents to stay informed about their water service lines.”

Over the coming year, the Southlake Water Division plans to continue refining the service line inventory to verify all service line materials. Residents that have unverified service lines may utilize our self-service tool or request an appointment through Southlake Serves. More information about verifying your service line can be found on our website.

To learn more about the federal guidelines and how Southlake is ensuring compliance, we encourage you to visit the Southlake Water Utilities webpage.

As a lifeline of our community, water demands careful stewardship – and no one understands that better than Madisson Dunn. Her careful guardianship over this precious resource, attention to detail, and commitment to aiming high above the standard of excellence earned her the prestigious Director’s Award for Public Works at the 2024 Employee Appreciation Awards.

“Madisson is a subject matter expert on regulatory requirements,” Public Works Director Rob Cohen said. “She’s worked diligently and certainly has been a force multiplier for the city. The doors are open for her and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Madisson began her career with the City of Southlake in 2019 as an Environmental Services Intern. Her passion for conservation and environmental stewardship was evident from the start, shaped by her earlier experiences as a Conservation and Community Engagement Intern at the Dallas Zoo and as a Camp Ambassador at the Elephant Habitat. These roles honed her ability to connect with the public, instilling in her the importance of educating others about conservation — a skill that has become a cornerstone of her work in Southlake.

In her current role, Madisson’s workdays are anything but ordinary. One moment, she might be deep in regulations, and the next, out in the field conducting inspections or sampling events. But regardless of the task, her dedication to keeping Southlake compliant with state and federal environmental regulations is unwavering. This work not only ensures the community’s health and safety, but it also fosters a deeper connection between residents and the environment they depend on.

“I love being able to provide the ‘why’ to the community’s questions,” Madisson explained. “Sometimes, regulations may not make sense inherently. Engaging with residents to provide the understanding for these mandates, or even to have them successfully self-reflect is a rewarding moment. Once we talk about the environmental repercussions of certain elements hitting our waterways, it can make more sense to the recipient.”

Madisson Dunn’s story is one of dedication and a genuine love for what she does. With her eyes on the future and a heart for service, she’s making waves — both in her division and in our community.

To view this video on mobile devices, click here.

As we enter summer in Texas, where triple-digit temperatures are the norm, you might be paying closer attention to your water quality. Rest assured that while you focus on staying hydrated, the Southlake Water Team is dedicated to your safety. The recent 2024 Water Quality Report details how your water is confirmed to be safe, with no actionable levels of contamination. 

The 2024 Water Quality Report is important because it not only shows the City’s compliance with Federal and State requirements, but it also allows you to be educated on the quality of the water you are consuming. 

This report provides information on how your water is managed, including details on Lead and Copper testing procedures, conservation efforts and programs, the sources of your water, and much more. 

Access the 2024 Water Quality Report here to see the data for yourself and learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into maintaining your water quality. 

The City of Southlake’s goal is to provide you with safe and reliable drinking water.

According to CDC.gov, over 90% of Americans get their tap water from community water systems, which are subject to safe drinking water standards.

We are happy to report that our water meets the safe drinking water quality standards as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

To ensure that our water is safe, the City takes chlorine samples throughout the distribution system every day to monitor the water for any abnormalities and collects 30 bacteriological samples every month in compliance with TCEQ and EPA requirements.

In addition to collecting samples, the City maintains seven water storage tanks that distribute water throughout our community.

These tanks are inspected annually, internally and externally, for structural integrity that involves evaluating the conditions of the foundation, protective coating, access points and vents and overall water quality.

The tanks are also drained and disinfected during annual cleanings.

Following the cleaning process, water is refilled and a sample is taken to verify that it meets safety and quality standards.

Once the results are received from the lab and the water is deemed safe, the tank is put back into the service cycle.

Information collected from the condition assessments are then compared to previous years so that any preventative measures can be taken to keep tanks and water they hold in superior condition.

To learn more about how Southlake’s water quality, you can view the water quality report online. For questions, please contact Southlake Public Works at 817-748-8082.

With an annual consumption of an estimated of 2.8 billion gallons of water, making sure you have high quality drinking water straight to your faucet is one of the City of Southlake’s priorities.

Our team works diligently daily, managing infrastructure, maintenance and improvements.

“Each day, we do our best to make sure Southlake has clean and safe drinking water,” City of Southlake Water Supervisor Kyle Flanagan said. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into making sure the community can turn on their faucet and fill a glass with water.”

Every day, a team member takes routine chlorine samples throughout the distribution system to monitor the water for any abnormalities. This equates to about 300 samples per month. Southlake Water Utilities also collects 30 bacteriological samples every other month, all in compliance with TCEQ and EPA requirements.

From water towers to storage facilities, the water team keeps them maintained and working property. This includes painting, cleaning, replacing equipment and restoring failed parts.

The team also conducts annual “flushing” to maintain a heathy water system.  Southlake Water Utilities monitors tank levels, chlorine levels and pressures using SCADA, and also utilizes the BEACON software to compile data to make decisions based off usage patterns of the City as a whole.

For more information about your water, visit www.SouthlakeWaterUtilities.com.

Drinking water is essential to the well-being and health of those who live, work and play in Southlake.

The Southlake Public Works Department teams up with other City departments such as Finance and Planning and Development Services to invest in maintaining and updating our water infrastructure. Public Works utilizes a ranking system which identifies and prioritizes projects essential to maintain critical assets. The department also abides by Environmental Protection Agency guidelines to provide quality and safe drinking water.

Water quality is maintained daily by flushing water hydrants, taking samples and monitoring to ensure facility operations are working properly.

Earlier this year, the City invested in renovating the elevated storage tank located on Miron Drive. Southlake cleans and inspect our tanks to ensure they meet and exceed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and American Water Works Association standards. After performing a series of inspections and cleanings, the tank was recommended to be repainted.

The City conducts annual inspections and cleanings on all water storage tanks to prevent a build-up of sediment which can settle in the bottom of the tank. Sediment left too long inside a storage tank could create a place for bacteria to form. When bacteria forms in a tank, the water in the tank can lose its disinfectant residual and adversely impact the water quality in the entire pressure plane or even an entire water system.

The renovation of the interior and exterior coating also prevents the corrosion of steel and the oxidation of the paint. The integrity of the water tower’s interior paint coating is essential to maintaining the infrastructure needed for quality and safe drinking water.   A smooth, non-porous surface helps ensure the tank is clean and free of issues.

The City also recently replaced 20-year-old pump valves at the T.W. King Booster Station. These valves play a critical role in the operation of the tank by pumping water from the City’s wholesale provider (City of Ft. Worth) to the water towers, which is then distributed to homes and commercial facilities in Southlake.

By strategically investing in public assets, such as water infrastructure systems, the City can continue to provide their customers with the highest quality drinking water.

For more information about water quality, visit our website. To review the 2020 Water Quality Report, click here.

You may have a few questions about your 2020 Water Quality Report.

The report is a comprehensive outline that displays information about the drinking water in Southlake. Details in the report include information about Southlake’s water source, contaminants and microorganisms that may have an effect on the taste and smell of your water.

This information is extremely detailed in the 15-page document, but we pulled out a few common questions that are frequently asked about water in Southlake.

Where is Southlake’s water sourced from?

The City of Southlake gets its water from the City of Fort Worth’s water department, which sources its water from other surface water sources.

Why is my water cloudy or milky sometimes?

While this isn’t typically, it happens on occasion. Cloudy water indicates air is trapped in your pipes, typically after a service disruption. If you experience cloudy or milky water, give us a call so we can help.

Why is my water bill so high?

There could be several factors that impact your water bill from sprinkler systems to active leaks. The City offers resources to help you determine your water usage. Learn more here.

What can I do if I think my water is unsafe to drink?

Our goal is to keep you safe, if you have any further concerns about your water, contact the Public Works Department directly at 817-748-8082.