About NTMWD

It is the mission of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to provide a high-quality potable water supply to meet the immediate and future needs of the region served since its creation in 1951. The initial population of the NTMWD service area totaled approximately 32,000 citizens. Currently, the NTMWD delivers and meets the potable water needs of over 1.6 million people daily residing on the north and east sides of the Dallas Metroplex.

NTMWD Water Supplies

Map of North Texas Lakes

The NTMWD utilizes surface water supplies from Lavon Lake, Lake Texoma, Jim Chapman Lake, Lake Tawakoni, Upper Sabine Basin Supply Project, the East Fork Raw Water Supply Project (Wetland) and Lake Bonham.

Surface water supplies in Texas are owned by the state. The state grants the right to use this water for various people such as water providers, farmers and ranchers, as well as for cities, industries, businesses and other public and private interests. As there is a limited amount of water in any stream, river or reservoir, there are limits to the amount of water which can be permitted to be withdrawn for use.

The NTMWD has obtained a water rights permit (contracted water rights) to utilize the surface water supplies stored within each reservoir’s conservation pool.

NTMWD Water Planning Efforts

For more than a half-century, the NTMWD has been planning and developing new water supplies to meet the needs of our growing region. The NTMWD’s water supply plans have been in place and continue to be evaluated and implemented as demands require the additional strategies to be brought online.

With the passage of Senate Bill 1, a comprehensive water legislation enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1997, water providers were required to participate in the state water planning process. This water planning process is designed to ensure that the water needs of all Texans are met as Texas enters the 21st century. Water providers must develop long-term water plans, submit the plans to the state and update the plans every five years.

Some of the most recent NTMWD planning efforts include:

  • Development and implementation of the current NTMWD Water Conservation and Drought Contingency/Water Emergency Response Plan.
  • 2007 State Water Plan formally presented by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to the State Legislature in January 2007. The 2007 State Water Plan encompasses the next fifty years and is available on the Region C Water Planning Group Web site.
  • Participation by the NTMWD in the regional planning process as dictated in Senate Bill 1, including having an NTMWD representative that has chaired the Region C Water Planning Group for 7 of the 10 years of the Planning Group’s existence.
  • Participation by the NTMWD on the Senate Bill 1094 Water Conservation and Implementation Task Group to develop Best Management Practices for wise and efficient use of water within the State of Texas.
  • Participation by the NTMWD on the Water Conservation Advisory Council as established by Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 4, as passed by the 80th Texas Legislature to serve as an expert resource to state government and the public. Members are to be selected based on their individual commitment to and expertise in water conservation in addition to their affiliation with an interest group.

The NTMWD promotes wise and efficient use of water, continues development of additional supplies and continues to expeditiously bring the projects to fruition to meet the needs of our region served.

Water Supply Projects that are underway

The implementation of the NTMWD long-range water supply plan continues on an accelerated schedule to meet the growing demands. It is estimated that a water supply equal to that supplied by Lavon Lake (104,000 acre-feet per year) will need to be developed each decade for the next five decades to meet the estimated water demands by 2060. Two raw water supply projects have come online in 2008 that will ultimately equal 1 1/2 the quantity of raw water supplied by Lavon.

  • The Upper Sabine Basin Supply Project will provide 50,000 – 80,000 acre-feet per year.
  • The East Fork Raw Water Supply Project, commonly known as the wetland project, will provide 80,000 – 102,000 acre-feet per year.


NTMWD Conservation Efforts

The NTMWD’s water conservation program is being aggressively implemented to extend existing available supplies and as a water management strategy to assist in meeting the near and long term water needs. The NTMWD will diligently protect, preserve and extend the water supply to ensure that water is available to all of its current customers for use.

The NTMWD has worked extensively with its Member Cities and Customers to create the Model Water Conservation and Drought Contingency/Water Emergency Response Plans, helping to reduce consumption and extend current supplies.

The implementation of the state’s Water IQ: Know your water awareness campaign over the last three years has increased the knowledge of Lavon Lake as the primary water source for those served by NTMWD. Post-research results indicate that those consumers that know Lavon Lake as their water source continue to use water wisely. Post-research results also note that the most motivating factor for consumers to save water is to ensure a water supply for the future.

Browse the Water IQ: Know your water Web site to learn more about your water supply and learn sensible tips that you can do to save water.