NTMWD advances Leonard WTP pipeline expansions with $27.4m in contracts

NTMWD advances Leonard WTP pipeline expansions with $27.4m in contractsThe North Texas Municipal Water District has awarded a suite of engineering and pipe procurement contracts to design and supply large-diameter pipelines connecting the Leonard Water Treatment Plant to the district's northern conveyance system.

Freese and Nichols and HDR Engineering secured a combined $9.4 million for the final design of two 84-inch pipeline segments totaling 130,000 linear feet.

AECOM was awarded $2.7 million for the preliminary design of a 48-inch pipeline to convey water to Princeton.

Northwest Pipe Company won a $15.2 million contract to procure 62,300 linear feet of 48-inch pipe for the Farmersville delivery point.

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Board of Directors approved four major contracts on February 26, 2026, totaling more than $27.4 million, to expand the distribution of treated water from the Leonard Water Treatment Plant to the district's northern conveyance system. To meet growing regional demand, the board authorized two final engineering design agreements for the Leonard Treated Water Pipeline No. 2. Freese and Nichols, Inc. was awarded $4,583,900 for Segment D, which includes over 72,000 linear feet of 84-inch pipe. The firm brings an extensive track record with complex North Texas infrastructure, having previously partnered with the NTMWD on major frameworks and served as program manager for the $2.3 billion, 150-mile Integrated Pipeline project. HDR Engineering, Inc. secured $4,890,150 for Segment E, comprising approximately 58,000 linear feet of 84-inch pipe that will connect Segment D to the existing water conveyance system. The board also approved a $2,737,600 preliminary engineering services agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for the Leonard to Princeton Pipeline. This project will design a new 28,000-linear-foot, 48-inch pipeline to route water supplies to the North System and Princeton, addressing projected growth that will require capacities greater than the system currently supports. For immediate material needs, a $15,257,175 procurement contract was awarded to Northwest Pipe Company for the Leonard Treated Water Pipeline to Farmersville Delivery Point. The contract covers the procurement, storage, and delivery of 62,300 linear feet of 48-inch pipe. A subsequent construction package will be required to authorize the pipeline's installation. During the meeting, a board member highlighted the operational benefits of the expanding network, noting that distributing more water from the Leonard plant provides a crucial backup source for municipalities like Farmersville, Frisco, and McKinney, and potentially reduces power costs by avoiding pushing water solely from older facilities.