Citizen Connection Aug 2019The City of Denton has a long-standing history of advancing wise resource use and sustainable
development in City initiatives, programs, and operations. This issue of Citizen Connection is filled
with information about how you can get involved in everything from reporting water leaks to cleaning
our local waterways, as well as participating in workshops and events that will help you learn how
to live more sustainably and take care of our environment.
With the heat of summer in full swing, Denton residents are using more water to beat the heat. While
we are inside keeping cool, the water pipes below the city are experiencing increased stress and are
more likely to leak or break. Water Utilities staff relies on the keen eye of our customers to help us
spot water leaks as they occur so that we can quickly repair infrastructure and keep the water flowing.
Though some water main leaks are easily identified by the fountain-like effect of pressurized water
pushing out of the ground or roadway, most are less obvious. If you see a puddle, running water, or a
wet patch of road that you believe could be a water leak, look around and consider the source of the
water, such as an overrun sprinkler system or water maintenance activities. If there is no clear source,
consider recent weather. Rainwater can trickle through soil and appear downhill as long as a week
after a significant rain event. If you can’t identify a water source
and weather has been dry, call (940) 349-8700 to report a
suspected water leak. Denton residents can also report water
leaks through the Engage Denton mobile app. City crews
investigate reported leaks to determine the source of the water,
whether a leak from City’s infrastructure, a leak from a
customer’s water service line, or no leak at all, and take action to
remedy the situation as necessary.
Crews will make repairs to water lines whenever leakage is found on City infrastructure. While crews
make every effort to keep water in service, repairs sometimes require crews to temporarily reduce
pressure on the water mains or turn them off completely. When this is needed, crews will
communicate door-to-door with affected residents, as appropriate, during the course of repairs,
leaving information on doors to help customers through the service interruption. Residents may wish
to approach the crew with questions, but we ask that members of the public maintain a safe distance
due to worksite hazards. If you are unable to speak with a crew member, you can call (940) 349-8700
and speak with utility dispatch about any concerns.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT
A LEAK IN THE WATER SYSTEM?
With the fall season just around the corner, Sustainable Denton
is gearing up for an exciting lineup of educational workshops and
events that are free and open to the public. Upcoming workshops
include Native Texas Plants (Aug. 24), Succulents Are Plantastic
(Sept. 14), Air Quality 101 (Sept. 19), Winter Gardening (Sept. 28),
and Seed Saving (Oct. 17). New activities this year include our
first-ever Monarch Madness Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21 at
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, located at 3310 Collins Rd.
In addition to workshops, Clear Creek will host a number of family-friendly hiking events for everyone
from beginner to intermediate, including the upcoming nature hike on Sept. 21.
If you are looking to volunteer this fall, there will be a variety of opportunities for you with activities
ranging from community gardening to trail events, and the annual Stream Clean waterway cleanup
event. At last year’s event, nearly 600 volunteers removed 2,976 pounds of trash and 944 pounds of
recyclable materials from area waterways. Look for information about the 2019 Stream Clean event
in next month’s issue of Citizen Connection.
For a complete list of upcoming events and activities, visit www.sustainabledenton.com and follow us
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sustainabledenton.
EXPERIENCE NATURE AT THE CITY’S
SUSTAINABILITY CLASSES & EVENTS
CITIZEN CONNECTION
AUGUST 2019
CITY OF DENTON
A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs
ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
Questions about the Citizen Connection? Call (940) 349-8171.
CITY PROGRAM SUPPORTS AREA SCHOOLS
WITH SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION
Residential curbside trash, recycling, and
yard waste collection will move one day
forward the week of Sept. 2-6 in observance
of the Labor Day holiday. There will be
no collection on Monday, Sept. 2.
Monday’s route will run on Tuesday;
Tuesday’s route will run on Wednesday;
Wednesday’s route will run on Thursday;
and Thursday’s route will run on Friday.
LABOR DAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE
Denton Sustainable Schools (DSS) is a City of Denton program that encourages Denton Independent
School District (DISD) students, families, and staff to improve our environment, create economic
value, and support and strengthen sustainable communities through the implementation of
comprehensive sustainability education.
This summer, 29 educators from 15 different DISD campuses attended
Camp DSS, an annual two-day teacher training program. This year’s
training included field trips, breakout sessions, and hands-on learning
opportunities for local educators from preschool to high school.
In addition to the summer teacher training and various other programs
throughout the year, DSS hosts an environmental awards program where
participating schools earn hundreds to more than a thousand dollars in
award money based on their implementation of certain environmental activities.
Schools earn points for recycling waste, teaching relevant lessons, field trips, presentations,
taking part in civic activities, maintaining a school garden, and many other educational initiatives.
A resource guide includes ideas for activities and lessons in each focus area; however, schools
are also encouraged to be creative and develop their own unique ways of engaging students.
Environmental Awards for the 2018-19 school year will be
distributed in September to assist winning campuses with
their environmental education efforts. Enrollment forms for
the 2019-20 school year are due Sept. 27.
To find the 2019-20 enrollment form, DSS resource guide,
and additional information about Denton Sustainable Schools,
visit www.dentonsustainableschools.com.
For more information and the complete
2019 holiday collection schedule, visit
www.dentonrecycles.com.
To receive weekly reminders and updates
about your collection schedule via email
or text message, download the free
Engage Denton mobile app on your
smartphone and click “Waste Reminders.”