A North Texas city has stopped using treated toilet water to supplement its water supply after a catastrophic drought was followed by heavy springtime rains.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Wichita Falls earlier this month cut off the 12.5-mile pipeline that blended a 50-50 mix of treated wastewater and lake water at its Cypress Water Treatment Plant.
Heavy rain in the area has helped restore lakes and reservoirs to near full levels following the crippling drought.
The direct potable reuse program will be replaced by a more permanent project known as indirect potable reuse, where treated wastewater will be pumped directly into Lake Arrowhead.
The city of more than 100,000 residents is under Stage 2 restrictions, which ban fundraising carwashes and watering sidewalks.
Photo credit: Ben Noey, Jr./The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
This report was provided by the Associated Press.