Water main breaks and leaks have increased across Dallas as sustained heat, high demand and dry soil strain the city’s drinking water system, Dallas Water Utilities reported Thursday.
Daily water use normally sits just above 400 million gallons, but it remained above 600 million gallons a day throughout August and through the first week of September, according to a September 10 city update. Officials said heavier demand and increased water velocities, along with dry, expansive soil conditions, contribute to failures.
Over the past three months, DWU crews repaired 310 breaks and leaks along main lines, 377 service line leaks and 233 hydrants. Crews and contractors are working extended hours around the clock, and DWU activated an additional repair contract to handle the summer increase.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, daily water use also topped 600 million gallons during extreme heat in August 2025.
DWU manages just over 5,000 miles of water mains, with diameters ranging from 0.75 inches to 108 inches, across a service area of roughly 700 square miles.
How Dallas ranks leaks
DWU assigns every reported or detected leak a priority from 1 to 4 after a field assessment. The utility bases that decision on threats to safety, property damage, water loss, traffic disruptions, customer effects and the importance of the affected line or facility.
Priority 4 covers emergencies. Crews respond immediately and typically finish repairs within 24 hours. These cases can involve threats to health or safety, property damage, traffic problems, critical facilities, large transmission lines, active surface flow, customer effects or major water loss.
Priority 3 covers planned repairs with meaningful effects, including significant water loss, higher flow rates or water that is actively running, spreading or visibly worsening. DWU generally completes those repairs about a week after crews schedule them, but emergencies take precedence.
Priority 2 covers confirmed minor leaks that create no effect beyond a wet spot. Priority 1 covers suspected or confirmed leaks in low-impact locations. The utility queues both categories while crews address higher-priority cases.
How to report a leak
Residents should report water main breaks or leaks by calling 3-1-1 and choosing the water main leak/break category. Callers outside Dallas may use 214-670-3111.
Residents can also submit a report online or use the Dallas 311 application for iOS or Android. City officials said each report triggers a field assessment so DWU can assign the correct response level.
Provided by Dallas Express
