WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 21, 2016 -- The Integrated Pipeline Project (IPL), a 150-mile long water transmission system being built by two North Texas water suppliers, has received the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s (ISI) Envision Platinum Award. The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) and the City of Dallas were presented Envision’s highest level of achievement award by ISI President Bill Bertera during TRWD’s July 19, 2016 Board meeting.
The IPL project is the 14th project in North America, and the first Platinum-awarded pipeline, to receive an ISI Envision rating award. The ISI Envision system measures sustainability in infrastructure projects in five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Natural World, Resource Allocation and Climate and Risk. These contribute to overall credits for the positive social, economic and environmental impacts in a community in the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects.
“This project represents the first regional water supply partnership of this scale in Texas, and goes beyond cooperation to planning, implementation and sharing of assets,” said ISI President and CEO, Bill Bertera. “Their leadership in these sustainable areas sets a high level of infrastructure precedence and so is well deserving of the Platinum award level.”
The pipeline, which will help meet water demands in rapidly growing Tarrant, Dallas and surrounding counties, extends from Lake Palestine in East Texas to Lake Benbrook just south of Fort Worth. By sharing resources, TRWD and the City of Dallas will save an estimated $500 million in capital expenses and potentially more than $1 billion over the life of the project.
“We are very pleased that the Integrated Pipeline Project has received this Platinum recognition from the ISI,” said Rachel Ickert, TRWD’s water resources engineering director. "Sustainability is a mindset. It's who we are and how we approach projects and operations. It's about doing the right projects and doing them the right way considering life-cycle costs, the communities we serve, and the environment."
The IPL Envision assessment was completed in cooperation with Elizabeth Blackwelder of Freese and Nichols, Inc. and Nathan D. Maier Consulting Engineers, Inc.
About TRWD
TRWD is one of the largest water suppliers in Texas, supplying raw water to more 30 wholesale customers North Central Texas. The district's primary customers include the cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield and the Trinity River Authority. TRWD’s four lakes –Bridgeport, Cedar Creek, Eagle Mountain and Richland-Chambers – are part of system that meets the needs of more than two million people in an 11-county service area. Working with our customers and other regional partners, the district’s proactive conservation efforts help save an average of 100 million gallons per day.
About the City of Dallas Water Utilities
City of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the United States, provides water to its 1.3 million residents as well as 1.2 million people in 26 wholesale customer cities. Through aggressive conservation efforts, Dallas has saved an estimated 316 billion gallons since 2001; and was the first in the region to implement time of day watering restrictions and a permanent mandatory maximum twice-weekly watering schedule. Although Dallas has significantly reduced its water consumption, the Integrated Pipeline Project is still a critical project for Dallas to meet its future water demands.
About ISI Envision
Envision is the product of a joint collaboration between ISI, which was founded by three national engineering associations: American Society of Civil Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies, and American Public Works Association, and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Information on all of ISI and Envision can be found on the ISI website, http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/.
