Frequently Asked Questions

	Why don't we just buy Dallas water?
	Dallas water quality is excellent, and we use it when we need an emergency supply but our city fathers wanted us to have a separate water supply, independent of Dallas and others.
	What do I do if I see a leak?
	Contact your city Public Works Department: University Park, 214-363-1644 Highland Park, 214-521-4161
	What do I do if the water smells funny?
	Contact us at dcpcmud@peoplepc.com and give us your address and description of the taste/odor problem. Typically, each year the District will experience an episode of taste/odor in its raw water due to lake turnover or an algae bloom. During such events, the District, once the event is recognized, will add powdered activated carbon to our treatment process. This additive will absorb the taste/order chemicals in the water, thus removing or reducing the problem. These episodes usually only last a few days.
	What do I do if the sewer backs up?
	Contact your city Public Works Department: University Park, 214-363-1644 HIghland Park, 214-521-4161

	Where do we get our water?
	Our water comes from a surface water source as opposed to wells. It comes from Grapevine Lake via the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. It is treated at the District's treatment facilities located at 1811 Regal Row. Treated water is then transmitted to the town and the city through a 36" main in Denton Drive and Mockingbird Lane.
	Is our water tested?
	The District performs a minimum of 7,150 tests per month on water quality. Parameters regularly tested during and after treatment include water temperature, turbidity, alkalinity, pH, hardness, chlorides, chloramine disinfectant level or residual, and presence or absence of coliform bacteria. Water temperature, tested at start of treatment, affects the reaction efficiency for particle removal and disinfection. Turbidity is a direct measure of water clarity and reflects the effectiveness of the particle removal processes. Testing is done before treatment, after coagulation and flocculation, after sedimentation, after filtration, and as treated water leaves the plant. Alkalinity and pH are important factors in the coagulation reaction and pH is important during disinfection, therefore these values are measured throughout the process. Water hardness is measured to assess the lime softening process. Chlorides are monitored in raw and treated water to forewarn of any upstream contamination and allow for appropriate treatment adjustment. Disinfectant residuals are monitored to insure adequate levels are maintained after disinfection, after filtration, and as treated water leaves the plant and out in the distribution system. Presence of coliform bacteria in water supplies indicates possible microbiological contamination. For this reason, bacteriological tests are performed on water before, during, and after treatments, and at designated locations in the distribution system. Monitoring and testing for organic, metallic, and radioactive contaminants are performed by the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) on water entering the distribution system. Of the 97 tests required by the EPA, all constituents detected are well below regulatory limits.