Wastewater & Sanitary Sewers

Sanitary Sewer System Overflows

Occasional unintentional discharges of raw sewage from municipal sanitary sewers occur in almost every system. These types of discharges are called Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are at least 40,000 SSOs each year. The untreated sewage from these overflows can contaminate our waters, causing serious water quality problems. It can also back up into basements, causing property damage and threatening public health.

If you see or suspect there is an overflow please call (940) 349-8400.

Inflow & Infiltration

Inflow and infiltration is water that enters the sewer system through cracked pipes, leaky manholes, broken cleanouts, and improperly connected storm drains and down spouts. Inflow generally comes from rain, while infiltration comes from groundwater.

The City constantly works to reduce inflow and infiltration through smoke testing, dye testing, TV inspection, and flow monitoring. For more information regarding inflow and infiltration, call (940) 349-8489.

Wastewater & Treatment

The Wastewater Utility manages the daily operations of Denton's wastewater system. The Division supports the collection system to 125,000 sanitary sewer customers and responsibilities include daily operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection system, sewer manholes, sanitary sewer lift stations, and compliance with the Clean Water Act.

The Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant treats about 15 million gallons per day. Our plant meets some of the strictest discharge standards to protect the quality of Pecan Creek, and meets all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) permits and regulations.

The City has an Industrial Pretreatment Program developed according to EPA and TCEQ regulations. This program assists commercial and industrial users in complying with EPA wastewater discharge regulations. For more information, call Jordan Wilson at (940) 349-8619.

Wastewater Collection System Smoke Testing

To perform smoke testing, crews access manholes and force air combined with non-toxic smoke into sewer mains to discover the locations of leaks and non-permitted connections. Smoke testing helps locate defective openings and inappropriate connections in the City's sewer system that allow rainwater runoff to enter, decreasing the system's capacity and ability to handle normal flows. By finding and repairing these defects, the city is able to defer expensive infrastructure needs and reduce the burden on utility customers.

A defective opening is detected if smoke is seen coming up out of the ground or other unexpected locations. During testing, residents will see smoke exit from rooftop vents pipes on homes and commercial businesses, from manholes, and from the ground where broken sewer pipes may exist. The smoke is non-toxic, creates no fire hazard, leaves no residue, dissipates quickly and is harmless to animals. The smoke will not enter a home or business unless there is defective plumbing present, or the drains have dried out.

When wastewater collection system repairs are needed, City crews will schedule repairs and notify homeowners in advance of the work. Due to the number of defects typically identified during this process, repairs may be scheduled several months after smoke testing is completed.

For More Information

For any questions, please contact Tyler Dawson, Field Service Tech Manager, via email or by calling (940) 349-8944.