Fort Worth outlines water system expansions as service area could add 300,000 people over 10 years

Fort Worth027s water utility briefed the City Council work session on Feb. 18 about infrastructure projects intended to meet rapid service-area growth and rising demand. Chris Harder, the city027s water system presenter, said the service area could grow by about 300,000 people over the next 10 years, equivalent to roughly 158,000 single-family meter units.

Harder said the West Side Water Treatment Plant is built as a 35 million-gallon-per-day (MGD) structure with membranes installed initially for 12 MGD; the plant currently operates at 18 MGD and staff plan to purchase membranes this spring to raise capacity to about 26 MGD. "We will be coming to you with a council agenda item to buy another 8,000,000 gallons per day of membranes to increase the plant capacity up to 26 MGD," he said.

The presentation mapped extensive West Side transmission pipelines and storage work, noting more than $100,000,000 in investment along I-20 and related corridors; staff said the new system could be available in 2026 but needs development customers to place large transmission mains into service without creating water-quality issues.

On the Far North, Harder described plans to expand the Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant. The facility is currently rated at 105 MGD; staff have advertised a bid to add 35 MGD (initial membrane installation for 35 MGD within a structure sized for 50 MGD) and noted the project is "master planned for 200 MGD." Harder estimated the immediate project alone at "$200 to $250,000,000" and said the 54-inch transmission pipeline linked to the plant carries roughly a $100,000,000 price tag; one pipeline contract was presented with an apparent $302,000,000 price when bid documents were discussed.

Harder also discussed North Side transmission improvements designed to reduce single-point failures and stress on aging cast-iron mains. The plan includes dual transmission loops, replacement of cast-iron trunk mains and new pumping/storage components; staff said a recent contractor breach on a 54-inch main underscored risk from single-feed lines.

Harder emphasized demand volatility driven by irrigation: average-day and max-day pumpage charts show large seasonal swings. He displayed data showing numerous North Side residential customers used more than 100,000 cubic feet (about 750,000 gallons) during summer months, and said the city expanded enforcement options last year to include administrative fines for irrigation ordinance violations: $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $75 for the third. "Those aren't meant to be punitive. Those are meant to correct behavior," he said.

Staff said several projects were being prioritized for earlier completion and that procurement evaluations will award extra points for early completion to speed capacity online. Harder urged that many planned developments already depend on these lines, so timely construction is critical.

No formal votes were taken in the work session presentation; staff said project costs and construction contract approvals will come to council through future agenda items.