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Economic
regions are often defined in terms of river
basins or river valleys because it is a convenient
and reasonable method of definition.
This is not only
because the river is a basic part of nature’s
drainage system but because of the historic
requirements for rivers to serve as a source
of potable and irrigation water, and as an intregal
part of a defense system. In the past the river was the major
conduit for transportation and communication.
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Rivers are a
renewable
economic resource.
The Trinity
River basin lies in eastern Texas and has a
total length of 360 miles. The total area drained
by the Trinity River and its tributaries is
17,969 square miles, or approximately six percent
of the state’s land area.
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Dallas
and Fort Worth, which were founded on the
banks of the Trinity River in the mid-1800’s,
totally dominate the upper Trinity River basin.
The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is the largest
inland population center in the United States
and has always had a profound impact on water
quality. |
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In the
early years of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan
area's development, it was not uncommon for
major tributaries of the Trinity River to
run dry. Today, because of the major
lakes in the upper watershed and wastewater
plant discharges, the Trinity River flows
with more volume every year. In dry weather,
it is not at all uncommon for the base flow
of the Trinity River to be 95 percent treated
wastewater. The Trinity River remains vulnerable
and provides very little dilution. Because
of these considerations, wastewater treatment
plant operators process wastewater to the
most advanced treatment standards in the nation. Approximately
three and one-half million people are served
by eight major regional wastewater treatment
plants operated by the Trinity River Authority,
Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland and the North Texas Municipal Water District. Wastewater facilities
operated by these entities release more than
500 million gallons
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that has 98 percent of all conventional contaminants
removed. As a result of our combined efforts,
the Trinity River is, once again, a river of
which we can be proud.
The
wise use of a river is to make the water available
to meet the needs of growing populations,
use it and then clean the water after it has
been polluted by use so that it can be available
for other purposes, human and environmental.
This is true conservation of resources, and
TRA expects to play an even greater role as
growth continues at an unparalleled pace.
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