MANAGING WATER QUALITY & USE
With a 2002 water compliance ratio of 99.9 percent, TXU continues to focus on effective management of water quality. We depend on recirculating water in our power plants every day for cooling purposes, so we know the value of clean water.

To achieve compliance, TXU personnel perform biomonitoring tests, a component of most wastewater permits, to help check the quality of water discharged from the company’s power plants and the effect on living organisms. Water fleas and fathead minnows are placed in water collected from power plant discharges and held from one to seven days while their survival, growth and reproduction characteristics are measured. During 2002, 138 tests were run with no chronic or acute test failures. This was the 13th year of this program during which time an excellent record of compliance has been compiled.

WATER RESERVOIRS & DAMS
Operating 15 major lakes and water reservoirs totaling more

than 546,000 acre-feet of water, TXU understands the need for inspecting dams. We have adopted a proactive inspection and training program to help us identify and remedy any adverse conditions before they reach problem levels. This program is not only helpful to the company, but it also helps keep these areas safe for the one million visitors who use these lakes for fishing, boating and other recreational activities each year.

CONFRONTING THE HYDRILLA PROBLEM
Over the past 15 years, many of TXU’s reservoirs have experienced infestations of the exotic aquatic weed hydrilla. TXU was among the first to aggressively attack the problem and work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in the development of strategies and methods to control the weed. In fact, TXU was the first to use triploid grass carp in public waters for the control of hydrilla.