Heath is in the middle of its biggest water buildout in years. Drilling on a third city well was scheduled to start October 23, 2026, the first well at Towne Center Park is expected to deliver up to 1 million gallons a day by summer 2027, and storage is set to nearly double. For a city of one-acre lots, that changes the growth conversation.
Why has water been such a big issue in Heath?
Heath sits on the east side of Lake Ray Hubbard but cannot draw water from it directly, because the lake belongs to the City of Dallas. All of Heath's water comes through a daily allocation from the City of Rockwall and the North Texas Municipal Water District. In late 2023, that constraint led the city to pause new residential and commercial development for six months while it worked on supply and irrigation rules, as NBC 5 reported at the time.
Since then, the city has steadily added capacity. According to the City of Heath's water plan page, updated October 22, 2026, available supply rose from 5.5 million gallons per day in 2024 to 6.5 in 2025 and 7 in 2026, helped by resolving long-standing lawsuits and new agreements with Rockwall and the water district.
What is being built, and when?
The city's plan combines new wells with more storage. Based on the City of Heath's published updates:
- Well No. 1 at Towne Center Park: Drilled to roughly 3,350 feet. Construction is complete, with electrical work underway as of August 2026. It is expected to supply up to 1 million gallons per day by summer 2027, both for park irrigation and as drinking water supply.
- Well No. 3 on Governors Boulevard in Heath Golf and Yacht Club: Drilling was scheduled to begin October 23, 2026 and take about 90 days, with water feeding a new elevated tank.
- Wells No. 2 and No. 4: Listed to begin in October 2026, each expected to produce up to 1 million gallons a day.
- A 1.5-million-gallon elevated tank at Heath Golf and Yacht Club, awarded about $4 million under budget.
- A 3-million-gallon ground storage tank at the Heath pump station, still in design.
When the new facilities are online, the city says storage will go from about 5 million gallons to 9.5 million. Long-term agreements are also expected to add 2 million gallons per day of supply over five years.
What will neighbors near Well No. 3 notice?
The city installed sound barriers about 24 feet tall around the Well No. 3 site in September 2026. They are meant to reduce noise but are visible and may affect views. Crews are required to park inside the site rather than on neighborhood streets and to keep roads clean. Weather could extend the 90-day drilling window.
What watering rules apply right now?
Even with more supply, conservation is still required by the regional water district. Heath runs a year-round twice-weekly watering schedule by zone, and no watering of any kind is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In August 2026, the city credited its added supply with keeping residents out of Stage 2 restrictions, which would limit irrigation to once a week. Heath has not been in Stage 2 since summer 2024.
How does Towne Center Park fit into the water story?
The renovated Towne Center Park is part of the plan. Its new entrance pond captures stormwater and will be refilled by Well No. 1, and the park's irrigation draws from that pond. The landscaping uses native and drought-tolerant plants. The park itself was a $12.8 million renovation that added event lawn space for up to 2,000 people, eight pickleball courts (six covered and lighted), four multi-use fields, a splash pad and a food truck street. The city held its grand opening after the July 4, 2026 parade. On December 5, it hosts Christmas in Heath from 4 to 8 p.m., including the city's first Candy Cane Lane Christmas Market and a 6 p.m. tree lighting.
What does this mean for buyers and sellers in Heath?
Water capacity is not something most buyers ask about, but in Heath it shapes almost everything about growth. Our agents at The Agency Dallas who work Heath and the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard see a few practical effects:
- More certainty for approved neighborhoods. The city has said its long-range modeling accounts for growth through build-out, and property owners with approved plats keep their development rights under state law.
- Landscaping expectations. Buyers who love large, green lawns should understand the twice-weekly schedule and daytime watering ban. Drought-tolerant landscaping is becoming a selling point.
- Irrigation system condition matters. Sellers can help their case by having irrigation checked for leaks and set to the current schedule.
- Infrastructure supports value. A city that has addressed its supply constraint is in a stronger position than one still debating it.
Is Heath still a one-acre town?
Heath's master plan has long called for one-acre home sites, and as of 2023 the city had no apartments or multifamily developments. In August 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered amending its high-density multifamily district to comply with a new state law, Senate Bill 785, which requires Texas cities to allow HUD-code manufactured homes by right in at least one residential district starting September 1, 2026. The city clarified that this concerns the type of structure only. It does not change the overall character of Heath's large-lot planning.
For a broader view of lakeside and large-lot living across North Texas, our neighborhood guides cover many of the communities we serve, and the home valuation page from The Agency Dallas is a starting point for Heath owners curious about today's numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Heath get its water?
All of Heath's water currently comes through a daily allocation from the City of Rockwall and the North Texas Municipal Water District. Heath cannot draw directly from Lake Ray Hubbard, which is owned by Dallas. The city is adding its own wells, starting with Well No. 1 at Towne Center Park, to supplement that supply.
When will Heath's new wells be running?
The city expects Well No. 1 at Towne Center Park to deliver up to 1 million gallons per day by summer 2027. Drilling for Well No. 3 on Governors Boulevard was scheduled to start October 23, 2026 and last about 90 days. Wells No. 2 and No. 4 were listed to begin in October 2026, each designed for up to 1 million gallons daily.
What are Heath's watering days?
Heath uses a year-round twice-weekly schedule assigned by zone, shown on the city's Water Wise page. No watering of any kind, including hand-held and soaker hoses, is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Residents should check their zone color on the city map and set irrigation controllers to match.
Did Heath stop new development because of water?
In late 2023, Heath approved a six-month pause on new residential and commercial development to secure more supply and update irrigation rules. Since then, supply has grown from 5.5 million gallons per day in 2024 to 7 million in 2026, and the city has said its plan supports growth through build-out.
What is at the renovated Towne Center Park?
The $12.8 million renovation added an event lawn and pavilion, eight pickleball courts with six covered and lighted, four multi-use fields, a rebuilt baseball field, two half-court basketball courts, a splash pad, new playground equipment, a nature walk and a festival street for food trucks. It opened with a ribbon cutting on July 4, 2026.
Sources
- City of Heath: Water Plan (updated October 22, 2026)
- City of Heath: Community Development, Water Conservation and Long-Term Water Plan (August 12, 2026)
- City of Heath: Towne Center Park Renovation
- City of Heath: Special Event Series
- Blue Ribbon News: Heath to kick off holiday season with new Candy Cane Lane Christmas Market (October 23, 2026)
- NBC 5 DFW: City of Heath plans six-month pause in residential and commercial development (November 2023)
