Interesting Facts About DWU

City of Dallas Water Utilities is a not-for-profit department of the City of Dallas providing water and wastewater services to about 2.3 million people in Dallas and 27 nearby communities. Its operations are funded solely by the water and wastewater rates paid by customers. Customers' water use is metered to ensure accurate billing.

Year founded: 1881

Population served:
1,260,950 in Dallas
913,326 in wholesale customers cities (treated water)
142,224 in wholesale customer cities (untreated water)

Number of wholesale customers:   24 treated water, four untreated water, 11 wastewater

Size of service area:   699 square miles

Water supply: surface water from five reservoirs — Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, Tawakoni, Ray Roberts

Water treatment plants:   three — East Side, Elm Fork, Bachman

Water treatment capacity:   900 million gallons a day

Record day water use:   789.6 million gallons, September 4, 2000

Water pump stations:   23

Water storage tanks:   21 — 9 elevated, 12 ground

Miles of water main:   4,781

Treated water provided in 2005-06:   170.4 billion gallons

Wastewater treatment plants:   two — Central and Southside

Wastewater treatment capacity:   260 million gallons a day

Wastewater pump stations:   14

Miles of wastewater main:   4,178

Wastewater treated in 2005-06:   65.8 billion gallons

What is wastewater?
Wastewater is the used water that goes down the drain in homes and businesses. Dallas wastewater collection system is separate from the storm sewer system, and storm water is not treated.