For the third time (2016, 2019, 2022), the Trinity River Authority has been recognized as a Utility of the Future Today. This year, TRA received the Partnering and Engagement certificate of recognition in relation to the joint-use Lake Arlington Raw Water Pump Station project with the city of Arlington.

The Utility of the Future Today program was created to recognize utilities that create innovative and sustainable solutions to wastewater and stormwater treatment.  

At its August board meeting, the TRA board of directors approved a partnership between TRA and the University of Texas at Arlington for engineering services related to the Ten Mile Creek Interceptor System (TMCIS). The university will provide a wastewater pipeline assessment of 34 miles of the TMCIS that will identify critical areas of the pipe that need to be repaired or replaced. The partnership reduces the time it would typically take to conduct this type of assessment. 

“They are local, and the university research center has a team dedicated to doing the work for us,” said Hydraulics Systems Manager Wes Pierce.

Phase I, of the collaborative project began this month.

UTA engineering students conducted a multi-sensor inspection of a portion of the Ten Mile Creek pipeline located in Ferris. Students used a boat, developed at the university, that has a forward-facing, high-quality video camera and a 360-degree panoramic camera. The boat also has LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to measure the diameter of the pipe, thus identifying potential corrosion and sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) technology to look below the water's surface for debris accumulation in the pipe.

The TMCIS consists of 34 miles of pipe built between the 1970s and 2000s. However, he explained that, age is not a good indicator of the pipe's condition.

“You could have a 10-year-old pipe that looks like it’s been in use for more than100 years based on the conditions you are putting it through and an older pipe that is in great shape,” said Pierce. 

Materials have also changed over time. Most of the older pipes were made from concrete materials that can corrode over time. Most newer pipes are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP/GRP) or poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) plastic that doesn't corrode, but it can potentially change shape. 



“The sonar technology will show us how the pipe is performing below the water,” said Planning and Design Services Manager Bradley Pierce. “If a pipe slope is too flat, the flow slows down, and there is the potential for solids to settle in the bottom of the pipe. The sonar information allows us to be proactive in maintaining the pipes, and it helps us ensure that they perform as they should.”

The assessment is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. 

River Guardians score wins at the Weftec Conference

Lake Livingston Project upgrades lighting system

The lights are shining brightly at the Lake Livingston Project. The project switched to all LED lights on the dam. The new lights are 'instant on,' which means they reach their full intensity instantly. Maintenance Supervisor Terry Burks said visibility has improved tremendously.  

"The lights downriver light up the entire river channel from the east bank to the west bank down to the 3278 bridge," said Burks. "We are even able to see the reflective decals on the restricted area buoy line in the river channel at night, which was not possible before without using a spotlight." 

TRA partnered with the Tarrant Regional Water District for the annual River Legacy fall festival. TRWD's watershed trailer was utilized to provide families with a complete watershed experience and educate them about how to conserve water. An estimated 2,500 people attended the event.