Public Involvement Key to Siting A Wastewater Treatment Facility

The City of Fort Worth (City) projects significant growth in population and wastewater flows over the next several decades, especially on the city's Westside.The alternatives for providing wastewater service to western Fort Worth are: 1) continue transporting wastewater to the Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility, 2) construct a water reclamation facility in west Fort Worth, or 3) limit future development in the area.The city contracted for a study related to the second alternative, specifically focusing on identifying and evaluating potential sites in western Fort Worth. The City's only operating wastewater treatment facility, the Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility, began operations in 1958. Expansion is limited by the lack of available land and discharge limits on the plant. As the western sector grows, transporting wastewater to the facility, located on the City's far eastern side, is increasingly expensive because of the long distance and heavy development through the central portion of the City. The Mary's Creek drainage basin was identified as the most feasible location because it has the most potential for development and is centrally located on the city's west side between the Clear Fork and Lake Worth basins. It consists of about 35,000 acres in western Tarrant and eastern Parker counties. Other studies define a western water reclamation facility's benefits to the overall wastewater system, outline a capital cost savings associated with a Westside facility and estimate when such a facility may be needed. Also, a Westside facility allows for cost-effective water reuse in that area, thus reducing the need to import additional raw water supplies from East Texas or elsewhere. Reclaimed water can be used on golf courses and other landscaped areas, provides a dependable supply of water, and helps the City meet its future water needs.