City of Hutchins, Texas - Public Works and Community Development

Public Works

The primary charge of the Departments of Public Works and Community Development are the improvement, expansion, and operation of the City’s infrastructure components including streets, non-motorized pathways, water system, wastewater collection system and site developments and building construction. The Departments provides technical assistance to various departments throughout the city in addition to coordinating and providing general oversight of the Public Works, Building, Engineering, Planning & Zoning, Parks & Facilities Maintenance Functions.

Building Inspection
Community Development (Planning and Zoning)
Engineering
Park Maintenance
Public Works
Planning and Zoning
Stormwater
Water and Sewer

Water and Sewer

The Public Works is responsible for providing reliable potable water for its residents and businesses, and a wastewater collection system for transmission to the wastewater treatment plant.

The City of Hutchins contracts with the City of Dallas, Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) for the purchase of potable water and wastewater treatment. The Hutchins DPW manages and operates the water distribution and sanitary collection systems within the City. Major facilities owned and operated by the City to maintain reliable water pressures throughout the system include water storage tanks and distribution piping. Wastewater treatment includes a series of lift stations and sanitary collections piping.

Public Works is responsible for the following regarding the water and sanitary sewer systems:

Maintenance and repairs of water mains and services
Maintenance, repairs of isolation values
Maintenance, repair and operations of all meters and provides Utility Billing with information for monthly billing
Maintenance and repair of all fire hydrants
Maintenance and repair of all sanitary sewer and services
Maintenance and repair of all lift stations

Also, the city is required to provide an annual report regarding the water quality of the system which is provided. Water Quality Report

Public Works monitors the lift stations and on an on-going basis, they regularly clean and root cutting sewer collection mains to ensure the reliable flow of wastewater to the DWU is provided.

Water and Sewer Rates

Appendix A, Article A13 of the Code of Ordinances establishes the Water and Sewer Rates Fee Schedule.

Water Use, Loss, Conservation 

 Easy Ways to Conserve Water

• Water your yard thoroughly, but only as needed - usually no more than 1 (one) inch, once a week.
• Use drip irrigation for plants and gardens and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
• Collecting rainwater for landscape use is great for the plants and can save you water and money. 
• Install aerators to cut in half the amount of water used by each faucet.
• Fix faucet leaks, which can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year.
• Install water-efficient plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption by 25% to 60% and save energy.
• Check your toilet by using a leak-detection dye tablet. Leaks can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day.
• Replace older toilets with water-efficient models and save up to 4,000 gallons of water a year.
• Washing only full loads of laundry can save an average household more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.
• Invest in an Energy Star-qualified clothes washer, which typically uses 50% less water and 30% less energy per load.

INDOORS

 Check all water line connections and faucets for leaks. A slow drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day or 5,000 gallons of water per month.

Plumbing

Check for leaks by visually inspecting all pipes, valves, and plumbing. Check valves, hoses and connections to all appliances:

• Dishwashers
• Hot Water Heaters
• Refrigerators
• Reverse Osmosis Systems
• Washing Machines
• Water Softeners

Look for water marks on walls, ceilings or floors.

Faucets

A slow dripping faucet can add up to thousands of gallons of lost water every year.

Toilets

Toilets are common and large sources of water loss. Up to 7,000 gallons of water can be lost per day because of a leaking toilet ($20 to $1,300 a month in addition to your regular bill). Here are some clues to help you determine if your toilet is costing you money:

1. Listen for the toilet running.
2. Ensure the flush valve and refill valve are working properly
   1. Draw a pencil line on the inside of the tank at the water line
   2. Flush the toilet and watch the tank refill
   3. If the water level falls below the pencil mark (and then rises above it), there is a faulty fill valve.
   4. If the water level rises above the marked line (and then goes down afterward) the flapper is leaking.
3. Make sure the toilet does not have a ‘silent leak’.
   1. Ensure the water in the tank and bowl are clear
   2. Add food coloring or dye to the tank water
   3. Wait 30 minutes (do not use the toilet in this time period)
   4. If, after the 30 minutes, the water in the bowl is colored then the toilet is leaking

Sinks

Use a pan of water or place a stopper in the sink for washing and rinsing dishes rather than turning on the water each time a rinse is needed.

Dishwasher / Washing Machines

Never run the dishwasher or clothes washer without a full load save water, energy, detergent, and money.

Check water requirements of various models and brands when considering purchasing any new appliances. Some use less water than others.

OUTDOORS

Water Meter

Check for hidden water leakage such as a leak between the water meter and the house. To check, turn off all indoor and outdoor faucets and water using appliances. The water meter should be read at 10 to 20 minute intervals. If the meter continues to turn, a leak probably exists.

Irrigation Systems

Leaks in irrigation systems will not always show on meters due to separate anti siphon shut off valves. To find leaks, walk your irrigation lines and check for unusual wet spots, leaky, broken or missing sprinkler heads.

Pools

Water evaporation from pools is expected, but if you are routinely adding more than two inches of water to a pool per week, you may have a leak. Place a bucket of water next to the pool and mark the water lines in both the bucket and pool. Wait 24 hours and check the loss of both. If the pool lost more water than the bucket, then there is a leak.

Common causes of leaks could be deteriorated sealants. Ensure all fittings, valves, pumps and filters are working properly and not leaking or dripping. Turn the pump off and look closely for spraying water.

Look for sinkholes at the bottom of above ground pools where sand may have washed away. Check vinyl liners for small tears and pinholes that could be leaking.

Lawns

Do not over-water your lawn. Soil can absorb only so much moisture and the rest simply runs off. One and one-half inches of water applied once a week in the summer will keep most Texas grasses alive and healthy.

Water lawns early in the morning in the hot summer months. Otherwise, much of the water used on the lawn can simply evaporate between the sprinkler and the grass. To avoid excessive evaporation, use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water rather than a fine mist. Sprinklers that send droplets out on a low angle also help control evaporation. To further limit water loss due to evaporation, avoid watering on windy days.

Plants

Use drought resistant plants. Choose plants that have low water requirements, are drought tolerant, and are adapted to the West Texas climate.

Documents

Fee Schedule

Forms

Water Quality Report

Water Service

Streets and Storm Drainage

The Public Works is responsible for all facets of maintenance and operations of streets within the city limits. This would include maintenance of traffic signals, street striping & signs and surface maintenance. The surface maintenance involves street sweeping of curb and gutter areas, clearing streets of debris after accidents, crack sealing, and pothole patching. Public Works is responsible for management of the City’s storm water system that involves maintenance of catch basins, cleaning debris from storm water lines, and compliance with state and federal permitting requirements. Public Works is also involved with planning, inspecting, and contract administration with all street construction projects.

Stormwater

Reporting line: 972-225-2561

2021 MS4 Report

Storm Water Plan

Documents

General Development Manual

Engineering Design Standards

Standard Construction Detail Sheets

Documents