The North Texas Municipal Water District is replacing a two-mile water pipeline, but nearby residents face disruptions from dust, noise and traffic.

PLANO, Texas — The North Texas Municipal Water District is replacing an aging two-mile water pipeline to boost delivery capacity in the area. But for residents living nearby, the project has become a source of constant frustration—fueled by traffic, noise, and dust.

Alan Heuser has lived in the neighborhood for 18 years. He spent time building a backyard retreat for his family to enjoy.

“We call it the estate,” he laughed.

But lately, enjoying it has been nearly impossible. That’s because, during the day, residents say the area is filled with noise from heavy machinery and construction crews. The bigger issue, though, is what’s happening just behind Heuser’s home.

“I cannot understand how a construction yard can be built right next to our houses,” he said. “There’s a giant pile of God-knows-what they’ve unearthed. I’ve got pictures from the neighbors that show the dust just blowing into people’s yards.”

The staging area sits near a residential zone, and neighbors tell WFAA even the slightest wind kicks up dirt and debris into nearby homes and yards.

The city of Plano has received some complaints, it created a webpage to keep residents updated on the project’s progress. The North Texas Municipal Water District acknowledges the inconvenience.

“We know that there are inconveniences for residents when we have these sorts of pipeline projects,” spokesperson Alex Johnson said. “But we try to do our best to be a good neighbor.”

NTMWD also notes this project is especially difficult because they’re “installing a new pipeline in a narrow easement on a major thoroughfare adjacent to residential neighborhoods.”

The water district issued the following statement: 

“North Texas Municipal Water District’s Plano West Side Pipeline project is part of the District’s ongoing efforts to maintain aging infrastructure across our region. As part of this project, a water pipeline originally constructed in 1975 is being decommissioned and replaced with a new, 36-inch pipeline. The new pipeline will increase water delivery capacity to the City of Plano, ensuring continued reliable water service for residents.

This project is particularly challenging in that our contractor is installing a new pipeline in a narrow easement on a major thoroughfare adjacent to residential neighborhoods. We have been working with the City of Plano to minimize traffic impacts and lane closures, which in turn limits the space along the road that our contractor has to conduct their work.

With every construction project we undertake, we strive to be a good neighbor to nearby residents. The District is aware of residents’ concerns regarding the project, and we continue to work with our contractor and the City of Plano to minimize the project’s impacts on nearby neighborhoods. For example, our contractor has recently increased efforts to reduce dust related to the project, including additional spraying of water to neutralize construction dust.

It’s customary for contractors working on large projects to set up a construction staging area where they store materials and equipment. We chose the location for the construction staging near 15th Street and Custer Road due to its proximity to one of Plano’s water delivery points from NTMWD, where the pipeline will terminate. Setting up the staging area in a nearby location helps us reduce the amount of money and time spent on the project, as construction materials are stored near the work area.”

But for neighbors like Heuser, that’s not enough. They plan to take their concerns to the city, hoping for quicker solutions.

The project is scheduled to wrap up by October 2026 — but residents say they’re not sure they can wait that long.