A town named for a lake that is no longer on the map
The name is older than the reservoir most people picture. The City of Dallas finished Garza Dam in 1927, and the water behind it was called Lake Dallas. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Lewisville Dam in 1955, the old dam was breached in 1957 and Lake Dallas became part of Lewisville Lake.
That history still shapes the town. Streets run downhill toward the shoreline, older homes sit near the water while newer subdivisions climb away from it, and low lots collect runoff during North Texas downpours.
For plumbing, low ground near a lake means two recurring calls: sewer lines that back up when heavy rain soaks the soil, and drainage pits or crawlspaces that need a working pump. Our sump and ejector pump service and lateral repairs cover both.
The Lake Cities at a glance
Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores work as one small market on the lake.
Water supply
Much of the area is served by the Lake Cities Municipal Utility Authority.
It belongs to the Upper Trinity Regional Water District, so the water is treated lake water.
Housing
Older homes near the shoreline sit alongside 1990s and 2000s subdivisions.
Low lots near the lake drain slowly after big storms.
Dispatch
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock for the Lake Cities.
The town is about 9 miles from Denton on I-35E, which keeps night response realistic.
Before We Arrive: If You Have A Burst Pipe Or Active Leak in Lake Dallas
Four steps that limit the damage in a Lake Cities home.
Close the main
Most Lake Dallas homes have a house valve in the garage or near where the line enters. The utility's meter box near the street is the backup.
Cut power to wet areas
Switch off any circuit the water is reaching, especially garage and laundry outlets near the floor, and only from a dry spot.
Clear the immediate area
Lift rugs and move stored boxes first. On low lots near the lake, check that rain is not adding to the water already inside.
Call our 24/7 line
Name your town, Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek or Shady Shores, give the cross street and mention if it has been raining.
What Lake Cities homes usually call about
Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores mix older lake-area houses with newer streets. The calls differ by age.
| Type of home | Most common calls | Worth checking first |
|---|---|---|
| Older homes near the shoreline. | Cast iron drain clogs, galvanized supply pipe, slow drains after rain. | A sewer camera run before any repair. |
| Subdivisions from the 1990s and 2000s. | Water heaters reaching end of life, slab leaks, running toilets. | The heater's age label and a meter test. |
| Newer infill homes. | Fixture issues, construction debris in drains, warranty-period leaks. | Builder warranty terms. |
Garage tanks in those 1990s and 2000s subdivisions are often on their second or third heater. Water heater repair explains how to tell whether a fix or a replacement makes sense.
Who supplies the water in the Lake Cities
Much of Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores is served by the Lake Cities Municipal Utility Authority, which is a member of the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. Check the name on your water bill, since a few addresses fall under other providers.
The utility handles the meter and everything on the street side of it. The line from the meter to your house, and every pipe inside, is plumbing work. If the meter keeps spinning with the house valve closed, the leak is usually in that yard line.
Lake Dallas and Hickory Creek share ZIP 75065, while Shady Shores sits in 76208. Calls from all three reach the same 24/7 line, and so do calls from Corinth just to the west.
Calls also come from Corinth in 76210 and the south side of Denton in 76205, both within about ten miles, for the same sewer and water heater problems.
After a heavy rain near the lake: what to check
Saturated ground near Lewisville Lake shows plumbing weak spots quickly. Walk through these after a big storm.
- Run water in the lowest tub or shower and watch for slow draining or gurgling, which can point to rain water in the sewer lateral.
- Make sure the outdoor cleanout cap is on and unbroken, so storm water cannot pour straight into the line.
- Check that downspouts carry roof water away from the house and are not tied into the sewer.
- If you have a drainage pit or crawlspace pump, confirm it cycled and that its discharge line is clear.
- Look for soggy strips of lawn that stay wet after the rest of the yard dries, a sign of a leaking water or sewer line.
The International Plumbing Code (IPC), the model code most North Texas cities adopt, keeps storm water out of sewers meant only for sewage, so a downspout tied into the lateral is a code problem as well as a backup risk.
Lake Dallas plumbing questions
Yes, at any hour, including weekends and holidays. Lake Dallas is about 9 miles from Denton on I-35E, and the dispatcher gives you an honest arrival window.
Yes. Lake Dallas uses ZIP 75065, which it shares with Hickory Creek, from the I-35E frontage roads out to the streets along the Lewisville Lake shoreline. Neighboring Shady Shores, in 76208, is covered as well.
Yes. Hickory Creek shares Lake Dallas's 75065 ZIP, and Shady Shores is just north in 76208. All three are on the same 24/7 line, and the plumber handles them as one area.
Rain water can enter a sewer lateral through cracked joints or a broken cleanout cap. When the ground is saturated near the lake, that extra water fills the line. A camera inspection shows where it gets in.
About 9 miles down I-35E. That is close enough for a realistic emergency response, and the dispatcher gives you an arrival window when you call.