Water Production

Water TreatmentWTPorg_d976ee933c8b54b8_1656685022000

The Benbrook Water Authority (BWA) owns and operates its own conventional water treatment plant. The original portions of the water plant were built in 1974.  The plant was expanded in 1988, 1994 and most recently in 2004.

Raw water is received at the water treatment plant from Benbrook Lake, which is part of a network of reservoirs managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). The water is treated by various physical and chemical treatment processes to ensure it is potable before the water is pumped into the distribution system and delivered to our customers.  Treatment processes include:

  1. Primary Disinfection/Pre-Oxidation: Chlorine Dioxide is added to the raw water to kill bacteria and viruses, and other chemicals are added to the raw water to help reduce algae and taste and odor causing compounds.
  2. Rapid Mixing: Coagulant chemicals are added to the water and cause small particles in the water to adhere to each other.
  3. Flocculation: Coagulated particles are slowly mixed in a series of chambers that cause them to become large and heavy enough to sink.
  4. Sedimentation: The large (floc) particles settle in a basin and are removed by a scraper system at the bottom of the basin, while the clarified water continues to the filtration process.
  5. Filtration: The clarified water passes through filters which contain sand and granular activated carbon (GAC), providing removal of tiny particles and additional taste and odor control.
  6. Final Disinfection: Chlorine is added to the filtered water to provide final disinfection and a disinfectant residual which  remains in the water all the way to our customers.
  7. Storage: The finished water is then transferred into 2 storage tanks prior to being pumped into the distribution system and delivered to the customer.

Fluoridation is not part of BWA's water treatment process.