North Texas residents are asked to reduce their water usage while a large water supplier for the region conducts “critical maintenance” to a water treatment plant in Wylie.
The North Texas Municipal Water District is a wholesale water supplier to about 2 million people in 80 communities in multiple counties, including Collin, Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall.
The district announced in a Saturday news release that it ceased operations at the Wylie water treatment plant — one of six that it maintains. It also asked residents to limit their water use while crews drain and clean “basins” at the plant, which play a significant role in filtering out particles out of the 210 million gallons of water it treats per day.
Residents served by the district can still drink and use their water, according to the news release.
Work was still ongoing as of Sunday afternoon, said Wayne Larson, a spokesman for the water district. He said work to restore the water treatment plant’s operations to full capacity “will take several days.”
The water district became aware of the issue at the treatment plant Saturday morning, Larson said.
Crews are closely monitoring the water district’s other treatment plants in light of “extreme weather conditions,” Larson said, adding that it is keeping in close contact with its customers and the cities that it services.
Maintenance is required at the treatment plant in Wylie, but Larson said any setbacks stemming from the work affects the entire region that the district serves.
Basins at the Wylie treatment plant were cleaned during winter last year as part of scheduled maintenance, Larson said.
“Draining and cleaning more than once per year is highly atypical and is necessary at this time as a result of persistent high temperatures, high regional water demands and recycling water at [the treatment plant,]” Larson said in an email.
Residents can help conserve water multiple ways, including turning off faucets when brushing their teeth, using their dishwashers rather than hand washing and running sprinklers in short cycles, Larson said.
