(June 26, 2026) Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) is a local and regional provider delivering safe, reliable drinking water to more than 2.6 million people in Dallas and 27 surrounding communities. DWU operates as one of the largest municipal water systems in the country, managing nearly 5,100 miles of water mains ranging in size from 0.75-inch to 108-inch diameter and covering a service area of approximately 700 square miles.
Every year, DWU completes a water loss audit as required by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The audit helps utilities identify where and how much water is being lost within the distribution system and establishes a baseline for tracking and improving water loss control efforts.
This year’s audit identified real water losses were 10.36 billion gallons, up slightly from 10.15 billion gallons in 2024. As part of the new state requirements under House Bill 29, DWU is also undergoing third-party validation of this data to confirm its accuracy and strengthen the integrity of DWU’s reporting. Water loss is an expected and unavoidable part of operating a water system of any size. Various factors contribute to water loss, including increased water demand and system stress, pressure changes, shifting soils, temperature fluctuations, aging infrastructure and the normal wear and tear associated with moving water through pipelines every day.
To proactively reduce water loss, DWU has made significant investments in leak detection, condition assessments and pipeline replacement programs.
DWU typically replaces approximately 40 miles of water pipelines each year and has replaced more than 400 miles during the past 10 years. Replacing aging infrastructure helps reduce the likelihood of leaks and breaks before they occur, while improving overall system reliability.
In addition, DWU’s Leak Detection Program uses advanced technologies to identify non-surfacing, difficult-to-detect leaks, ensuring complete system coverage every three years. Using acoustic loggers, correlators, and inline tools, the team can locate hidden leaks on everything from large transmission mains to smaller distribution pipes, services, and hydrants — leaks that, left undiscovered, could continue losing water underground for years before ever surfacing.
To assist in leak response effort, DWU also has plans to increase watermain repair resources utilizing contracted services to augment in-house capabilities and will be preparing a Water Loss Mitigation Plan for submission to the TWDB in spring 2027.
DWU provides enhanced reporting options that allow customers to report water leaks through Dallas 311 online or through the Dallas 311 mobile application, available for download on iOS and Android devices.