Municipal Archives

CONTACT INFO

Dallas Municipal Archives
municipal.archives@dallas.gov
1500 Marilla St., Rm L2DN
Dallas, Texas 75201

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Dallas Water Utilities Records, 1882-1993

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Collection 1991-060

Overview

Repository	Office of the City Secretary Dallas Municipal Archives 1500 Marilla Street, 5D South Dallas, Texas 75201
Creator	Dallas Water Utilities
Title	Dallas Water Utilities Records
Dates	1890-1993, 1882-1990 [Addition], 1886-1999 [Addition]
Quantity	2.3 linear feet, 20.43 linear feet [1882-1990 Addition], 33.5 linear feet [1886-1999 Addition]
Abstract	Materials documenting the history of Dallas Water Utilities.
Identification	1991-060
Language	Records are in English

Scope and Content

Collection consists of reports and studies, correspondence and memoranda, statistical data, maps and plans, ephemera, newspaper clippings, negatives, photographs, and printed materials from the City of Dallas Water Works (now Dallas Water Utilities).

Collection documents the history, development, and operations of Dallas Water Utilities (DWU), the self-financed City of Dallas department responsible for water collection and distribution. Dallas Water Utilities began as the City of Dallas Waterworks in 1881 when the city purchased a privately-owned water company that had been providing Dallas with water since the 1870s. When Browder Springs proved an inadequate water source, the city turned to surface water sources such as the Trinity River and manmade lakes (Bachman [1903], White Rock [1913], Lake Lewisville [1929], Lake Grapevine [1952], Lake Tawakoni [1963], Lake Ray Hubbard [1970], Lake Ray Roberts [1980], Lake Fork [2009], and Lake Palestine [2015]).

DWU serves a population of approximately 1,211,000 customers in Dallas, 862,457 in wholesale customers cities (treated water), and 129,993 in wholesale customer cities (untreated water) in a service area of approximately 699 square miles. Dallas’s surface water supply comes from five reservoirs – Lakes Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, Tawakoni, and Ray Roberts. Water purification is conducted at the East Side, Elm Fork, and Bachman plants; they treat some 855 million gallons a day. Water is distributed via 23 pump stations and stored in 21 storage tanks (nine elevated, twelve ground) and conveyed through 4639 miles of water main. Wastewater is treated at two plants, Central and Southside, at 260 million gallons a day.

1882-1990 [Addition]

The collection contains gelatin silver prints, negatives, positive transparencies (including 2x2 slides), photographic albums, and moving image material in different formats. Within the physical arrangement, items were organized into broad subjects such as water sources, facilities, distribution and construction activities, and personnel. Original order was maintained wherever found; though, approximately 80% of the Water Utilities materials have an imposed arrangement.

The bulk of the addition documents the construction and operations of DWU facilities, water distribution, construction and replacement, water apparatus, and DWU employees. Especially significant materials in the collection include views of the Dallas floods of 1908 and 1935, a 1924-25 survey documenting pollution in the Trinity River, and many incidental city views. Virtually all of the collection relates to Dallas Water Utilities, though a few images depict water treatment and delivery systems in Houston, Irving, facilities outside of Texas, and outside the United States.

1886-1999 [Addition]

Unpublished reports and studies, correspondence and memoranda, statistical data, maps and plans, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and printed materials.

The bulk of the collection is original documents; though, approximately 30% of the addition is photocopied material. Original order was maintained in series judged to be intact, but parts of the collection required an imposed arrangement.

Organization

The collection is arranged chronologically.

The 1882-1990 [Addition] is arranged first by the following subjects and second by date:

• Prints: Groundwater sources
• Prints: Dams
• Prints: Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Water Purification Plants
• Pump Stations
• Wells, Elevated Tanks, Vehicles, and Equipment
• Construction and replacement
• Wastewater collection
• Dallas Water Utilities offices, service buildings, and divisions
• Property Documentation
• Non-Dallas Facilities

The 1886-1999 [Addition] is arranged first by the following subjects and second by date:

• Water and Wastewater Operations
• Facilities
• Distribution and Collection
• Capital Improvement Operations
• Reports and Studies
• Legal Materials
• Dallas City Council Water-Related Records
• Historical Data
• Annual Reports
• Vouchers and Accounting
• Payroll and Time Reporting Records
• Administrative Correspondence and Personnel Records
• Published Materials
• Oversized Scrapbooks [press clippings]

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization for any images.

Citation

Dallas Water Utilities Records (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials

Dallas -- Texas – History
Dallas (Tex.). Water Utilities Dept. -- History
Water Supply -- Dallas (Tex.) – History

Container List [Original collection 1890-1993]

Box	Folder	Title, Date
1	1	Report presented by the Water Commissioner concerning Chattanooga Foundry and Pipe Company, May 31, 1890
	2	Chattanooga Foundry and Pipe Works, pipe orders, 1890
	3	Receipts for pipe purchases, Chattanooga Foundry for Houston Texas & Central Railway, April 10, 1890
	4	Letter and receipt of note for payment, Chattanooga Foundry and Pipe Works June 20, 1890
	5	Annual Report of the Chairman of Water Commissioner, April 30, 1904
2	1	Water Supply Report by R. T. Hill, 1923 (bound volume)
	2	Water Supply Committee Report, 1920
	3	Committee of Engineers on Water Supply, April 28, 1923
	4	Water Supply Report by R. T. Hill, Part II, 1923
	5	Report of Special Committee by W. J. Powell, recommending construction of White Rock Reservoir, 1909
	6	W. J. Powell file, 1922-23
	7	Additional water supply from Dallas Elm Fork, Denton Creek, and Clear Creek by W J. Powell, 1921
	8	Mountain Creek Reservoir, 1923
	9	Report on Dallas Water Supply, T. U. Taylor, 1921
	10	Report on Dallas Water Supply, W. J. Powe11, 1921
	11	Report on Investigation for an additional water supply by J. C. Nagle and R. A. Thompson, January 17, 1924
3		Hill Report Charts and Mechanical Analysis, c. 1923
4	1	Accounts Receivable in Suspense and In Profit and Loss to be abated, 1930-1938
	2	Items in Suspense to be abated, 1930-1931
	3	Items in Suspense to be abated, 1932-September 30, 1934
	4	Items in Suspense to be abated, October 1, 1934-December 31, 1935
	5	Items in Suspense to be abated, 1936
5	1	Design Manual for Storm Drainage Facilities, Public Works, n. d. possibly, 1964
	2	Report on Project Management for Dallas Water Utilities, 1979
	3	Dallas Water Utilities Water Treatment Study for Dallas, 1982
6	1	Brochures, flyers
	2	Bachman Water Treatment Plant, 1988
	3	"Bench Marks" - Survey and Mapping, 1985
	4	Wildflowers Planting Guide
	5	News & Views, four issues, July 1987-June 1988
	6	News & Views, three issues, December 1991-February 1992
	7	Natural Beautification - A guide to native, adopted, and drought-tolerant plants
	8	Dallas Water Utilities, Annual Report 1987
7	1	Clean Water, c. 1985-1986
	2	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and Adjoining Areas - Flood Protection Study, June 1991
	3	Water Purification Division Annual Report, 1981-1982
	4	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1984
	5	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1985
	6	Research Program Annual Report, 1985
	7	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1986
	8	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1986
	9	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1987
	10	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1988
	11	Dallas Water Utilities Annual Report, 1993

TOP

Container List [1882-1990], Photography [Addition]

Box	Folder	Title, Date
		Prints: Groundwater sources
1	1	Trinity River [including Elm Fork]
	2	Trinity River flood, 1908
	3	Trinity River flood, 1908
	4	Trinity River flood, 1935
	5	Trinity River – Elm Fork flood, 1935
	6	Trinity River – Pollution, 1938
	7	Trinity River – Elm Fork saltwater problem, 1940
	8	Lake Lewisville [Lake Dallas], 1925-1950 and undated
	9	Lake Lewisville – Fishtrap Road construction, 1935
	10	Lake Lewisville – Lake Dallas school toilets, undated
	11	Lake Lewisville – flood, 1935
	12	Lake Lewisville – Texas Transient Bureau [Labor], Ca. 1934
	13	Lake Ray Hubbard, 1964, 1975-1979 and undated
	14	Lake Ray Hubbard – highway relocations, undated
2	2	Lake Worth, undated
	3	White Rock Lake – dredging, undated
	4	White Rock Lake – flood, Greenville Avenue and Interstate highway, April 1966
	5	Willow Lake – infrared hydraulic analysis, undated
	6	Browder Springs, 1914
	7	Bachman Creek, November 1977
	8	Grapevine Creek, November 1977
	9	Joe's Creek, November 1977
	10	Turtle Creek, 1981 and undated
	11	Williamson Creek, 1956
	12	Jim Miller Reservoir, 1981
	13	Sunset Reservoir, 1950-1951
	14	Tawakoni Balancing Reservoir (Interim), 1963 and undated
	15	Walcrest Reservoir, 1952-1972 and undated
		Prints: Dams
3	1	Bachman Lake forebay dam, 1940, 1974
	2	California Crossing Dam, 1907-1977
	3	Carrollton Dam, 1916-1978 and undated
	4	Forney Dam, 1963-1975 and undated
	5	Forney Dam – site pre-construction, 1968
	6	Frazier Dam, 1929, 1977-1978 and undated
	7	Frazier Dam – flood, 12/14/1971
	8	Garza Dam (Lake Lewisville) construction, 1924
	9	Iron Bridge Dam and Spillway (Lake Tawakoni), 1954-1963 and undated
	10	Lake Fork Dam, undated
	11	Lewisville Dam, 1954 and undated
	12	Record Crossing Dam, 1912
	13	White Rock Lake Dam and Spillway, 1930-1935 and undated
	14	White Rock Lake Dam and Spillway – flood, 1962
		Prints: Wastewater Treatment Plants
4	1	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant construction, 1915
	2	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Imhoff tanks, 1915-1916
	3	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant extension progress photos, 1936
	4	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant addition, 1963-1964
	5	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1973
	6	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1974
	7	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1975
	8	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1947-1982 and undated
	9	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant sludge digester, ca. 1975
	10	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant incinerator, ca. 1925 and undated
	11	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant White Rock Plant, 1951-1954
	12	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant White Rock Plant, 1955-1974 and undated
	13	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant defect documentation of contractor's work, Lake Dallas and White Rock Plants, 1963
5	1	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Demonstration Plant dedication, 1969
	2	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Demonstration Plant and laboratories, 1973-78
	3	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Demonstration Plant, 1969-1972 and undated
	4	Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Demonstration Plant, 1969-1973 and undated
	5	Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1967-1975 and undated
	6	Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1949-1951
		Water Purification Plants
6	1	Bachman Water Purification Plant construction, 1929-1930 [annotated exhibits A-Q]
	2	Bachman Water Purification Plant construction, 1929-1930
	3	Bachman Water Purification Plant construction, 1929-1930
	4	Bachman Water Purification Plant, 1929-1976
	5	Bachman Water Purification Plant extensions, 1948-1949
	6	Bachman Water Purification Plant, 1950-1953
	7	Bachman Water Purification Plant, 1935-1968
	8	Bachman Water Purification Plant Bachman Intake, 1929, 1967-1972
	9	Bachman Water Purification Plant, December 1990
	10	Bachman Water Purification Plant, undated
	11	Carrollton Water Purification Plant [Pilot Plant], 1972, 1977
7	1	Eastside Water Purification Plant, 1955-1968
	2	Eastside Water Purification Plant, 1963-1968
	3	Eastside Water Purification Plant Chemical Building tour 7/18/1963
	4	Eastside Water Purification Plant dedication, 7/31/1964
	5	Eastside Water Purification Plant tree planting, 3/17/1966
	6	Eastside Water Purification Plant, 1970-1972
	7	Eastside Water Purification Plant, 1976-1979
	8	Eastside Water Purification Plant, 1979-1983
	9	Eastside Water Purification Plant goat project, 1986
	10	Eastside Water Purification Plant, undated
	11	Eastside Water Purification Plant, undated
8	1	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant construction, 1951-1952
	2	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant, 1952-1959
	3	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant, 1960-1969
	4	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant, 1970-1980
	5	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant basin under construction, 1966
	6	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant Elm Fork intake, 1965, 1990
	7	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant basement, 1983
	8	Elm Fork Water Purification Plant, undated
	9	Turtle Creek Water Purification Plant, 1913, 1931
	10	White Rock Lake Water Purification Plant loose album pages, 1926
	11	White Rock Lake Water Purification Plant, 1952 and undated
		Pump Stations
9	1	Alta Mesa Pump Station, undated
	2	Bachman Pump Station, 1910-1977 and undated
	3	Bachman Pump Station number 2LL pump, 12/21/1984
	4	Bachman Pump Station number 3LL pump, 12/24/1984
	5	Beltwood Pump Station, 1963-1965 and undated
	6	Burning Tree Pump Station, 1980
	7	Cadiz Street Pump Station, 1916-1965
	8	Casa View Pump Station, 1965 and undated
	9	Cosa Crest Pump Station, 1979 and undated
	10	Dixon Branch Pump Station, 1954-1980
	11	East Dallas Waterworks (first pumping facility), undated
	12	Elm Fork Pump Station, 1951-1970
	13	Fair Park Pump Station, undated
	14	Forney Pump Station, 1963-1979 and undated
	15	Greenville Avenue Pump Station, 1952-1978 and undated
	16	Hillcrest Pump Station, undated
	17	Iron Bridge Pump Station, 1960-1963 and undated
	18	Jim Miller Pump Station, 1979-1981 and undated
	19	Lake June Pump Station, 1960-1977 and undated
10	1	Lancaster Street Pump Station, 1912 and undated
	2	Record Crossing Pump Station, 1912 and undated
	3	Red River Pump Station (including runoff), 1953-1955 and undated
	4	South Cliff Pump Station, 1958-1964 and undated
	5	Sunset Pump Station, 1952 and undated
	6	Turtle Creek Pump Station, 1907-1953 and undated
	7	Walnut Hill Pump Station, 1976
	8	White Rock Lake Pump Station, 1922-1981 and undated
	9	[multiple stations] Valve controls – Polaroids circa 1980
		Wells, Elevated Tanks, Vehicles, and Equipment
11	1	Well 13 [Paluxy Well, Oak Cliff], 1907 and undated
	2	Well 33 [Oak Cliff], 1929-1932 and undated
	3	Well 34 [Dealey Street at Plowman], 1924 and undated
	4	Well 35 [Opera Street at Ewing], 1951-1953 and undated
	5	Well 36 [Ravinia Street at Jefferson], undated
	6	Well 38 [Stevens Park], 1932 and undated
	7	Well 39 [Vermont Street at Fernwood], 1939
	8	Artesian Well [unidentified location], undated
	9	Lake June Well, 1958
	10	Unidentified well [Oak Cliff], 1937
	11	Elevated tanks, 1951-1979 and undated
	12	Elevated tanks, 1951-1979 and undated
	13	Forest Lane Storage Tank, 1976
	14	Vehicles and equipment, 1956–1979 and undated
	15	Vehicles and equipment, 1956–1979 and undated
	16	Vehicles and equipment – valves, undated
	17	Vehicles and equipment, dock pump [Bachman #16], 1976
	18	Vehicles and equipment – combinatory, 1964
	19	Water transmission and distribution lines, 1915-1970 and undated
	20	Water transmission and distribution lines, 1915-1970 and undated
	21	Water transmission and distribution lines – corrugated pipeline, undated
		Construction and replacement
12	1	Construction and replacement, 1909-1979 and undated
	2	Construction and replacement, 1909-1979 and undated
	3	Construction and replacement – 40-inch force main, Trinity River bottom, 1929
	4	Construction and replacement – Commerce Street underpass, 1935
	5	Construction and replacement – Commerce Street tunnel, 1947
	6	Construction and replacement – water main repair, 1951-1953 and undated
	7	Construction and replacement – main breaks, 1938-1964 and undated
	8	Construction and replacement – Sanitary Sewer Division, 1953-1966
	9	Construction and replacement – 13071 Gwyneth Lane (fatality site), 1965
	10	Construction and replacement – sewer line installation, 1950-1960
	11	Construction and replacement – Five Mile Creek sewer, undated
13	1	Construction and replacement – Lemmon Avenue project, 1955
	2	Construction and replacement – Prairie Creek outfall, 1963
	3	Construction and replacement – Elm Street cave-in (Elm at Field), 1967
	4	Construction and replacement – transmission lines to DFW Airport area, 1972
	5	Construction and replacement – contract 72-97-R installation, 1972
	6	Construction and replacement – unidentified project, 1972 Construction and replacement – loose prints from album, 1929 and undated
		Wastewater collection
	7	Wastewater collection, 1915 – circa 1938 and undated
	8	Wastewater collection – line to Cadiz Street Station, 1929 and undated
		Dallas Water Utilities offices, service buildings, and divisions
	9	Dallas Water Utilities offices and service buildings, 1915-1978 and undated
	10	DeSoto meter vault, undated
	11	Forney Road chlorination station, circa 1940
	12	Polymer feed station, 1970
	13	Stormwater plant (Harry Hines Boulevard), built 1971
	14	Central Maintenance Division, undated
	15	Accounting Division, circa 1915-1940
	16	Cityscapes, 1932-1981 and undated
	17	Water testing and research, 1950–1976 and undated
	18	Meters and meter reading, 1916-1965 and undated
	19	Large meter tests, undated
		Property Documentation
14	1	K. E. Bruton property, parcels 1 & 2, 1953
	2	K. E. Bruton property, parcel 3, 1953
	3	Eugene Honzen property, 1953
	4	Dallas Water Utilities property at Lake Dallas and Mingo areas, undated
	5	McCone property, 1953
	6	George W. Ware estate, parcels 3 & 6, 1953
		Non-Dallas Facilities
	7	Dallas County, Texas - Levee Pump Station B, undated
	8	City of Garland, Texas - Duck Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1979
	9	City of Grapevine, Texas water system, 1976-1977 and undated