On the southern side of Dallas, Texas, just off Dowdy Ferry Road, sits D Bar B Water & Wastewater Supply Corporation — a small, member-owned utility that has weathered decades of change with determination and community grit. Serving 89 homes in a mobile home park, the system has long been the backbone of daily life for its residents, many of whom depend on it for safe, reliable water and wastewater service.
But keeping a system like D Bar B running is no small task. Failing infrastructure, expensive repairs, and limited resources make each year a balancing act. For more than two decades, D Bar B has relied on the support of the Community Infrastructure and Lending Teams at Communities Unlimited (CU) to stay afloat.
A History of Help
D Bar B was first incorporated in 2005 with help from CU’s predecessor, Community Resource Group (CRG). The move transformed the mobile home park’s utilities from privately owned to a nonprofit cooperative, opening doors to funding opportunities and bringing the system into compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements. ERG assisted with creation, initial rates, budgeting, transfer of the utility ownership, Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an engineer, and meeting TCEQ compliance.
Since then, CU has stood by the small utility through multiple chapters. In 2015, CU provided a $167,000 loan to help D Bar B pay for an audit and refinance high-interest debt. The loan was fully paid off this spring.
In 2021, the system turned to CU again for an $80,000 loan to purchase and install emergency generators for the sewer plant.
“Without CU’s help, I might’ve made it, but it would’ve been much harder. You all helped me figure things out, call the right people, and find solutions.”
— Doris Vallian, D Bar B Water & Wastewater Supply Corporation
A New Chapter of Repairs and Renewal
On the ground, CU’s Community Infrastructure Regionalization Project Manager Janelle Saucedo has been instrumental in guiding D Bar B through its most recent phases of improvement. Her work bridges the technical and financial sides of infrastructure — from grant writing and engineering coordination to ensuring compliance protocols are met.
Saucedo helped D Bar B secure $92,820 through the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to install an emergency generator at the water well. The funds are already in the bank, but the system can’t access them until all required steps — including engineering reviews and surveys — are completed.
At the same time, Saucedo worked closely with CU’s Lending Team to prepare and submit loan applications for system upgrades. With Senior Economic Development Loan Officer Chris Ranniger overseeing the process, CU closed on a $93,770 loan in late September 2025.
The funding supports improvements: $40,470 for lift station rehabilitation — including new grinder pumps, a control panel, hatch cover, and gear drive — and $53,300 for water infrastructure repairs. Those include installing a temporary tank while the existing one is sandblasted, coated, and repaired, as well as replacing the 16-year-old booster pump and motor.
“CU’s process was again quick and easy,” Vallian said. “Everything went smoothly.”
Resilience Through Partnership
For Vallian, the work is personal. She first got involved as a resident when the park’s water and sewer systems were failing, and state agencies were threatening to shut them down. Instead of walking away, she stepped up.
“I was told not to get involved, that it’d be like a tornado that would run me over,” she said. “But I couldn’t just sit back. People lived here — including me.”
Owning property in the community meant Vallian’s livelihood was directly tied to the system’s success. When she purchased the property, she also inherited the previous owner’s responsibilities and liabilities. The system had been neglected for years, leaving her with no choice but to take charge.
Though she describes it as “like putting a leash around my neck,” Vallian knew that ensuring the system’s improvement and compliance was the only way to protect both her investment and the people who called the park home.
Over the years, her leadership — combined with Saucedo’s behind-the-scenes technical support and CU’s financial guidance — has brought D Bar B from the brink of closure to full compliance. The system has no current enforcement actions and even built a $25,000 reserve fund for emergencies.
Vallian keeps operations lean by doing nearly all the work herself — from maintenance calls to administrative paperwork — a hands-on approach that helps keep costs low for residents while ensuring every dollar goes back into the system.
Looking Ahead
For CU, the collaboration reflects what sustained support can accomplish. Together, they’ve helped the system secure critical funding, complete complex applications, and navigate challenges that once seemed insurmountable.
D Bar B stands as an example that even the smallest systems can survive and thrive.
“CU should be proud. You’ve helped us become self-sufficient. When everything was broken — no money, no organization, no compliance — you helped me get it back together. I want to thank CU for being there for us. You’ve helped me maneuver through all the challenges, and I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that CU is important for small systems like ours.”
— Doris Vallian
