McCarthy Launches $202.5M Expansion of North Texas Water Treatment Plant

McCarthy Building Cos. has broken ground on the $202.5-million Phase 2 expansion of the Tom Harpool Regional Water Treatment Plant in Providence Village, Texas—a project that will double treatment capacity to 60 million gal per day by 2028 to meet regional demand.

The Upper Trinity Regional Water District, which serves 29 cities and utilities across Denton and Collin counties, is delivering work under a construction manager-at-risk contract with McCarthy and design engineer Carollo Engineers. The district’s 950-sq-mile service area includes about 400,000 residents, with projections topping 1 million by 2045 as the Dallas–Fort Worth suburbs continue expanding north.

Financing includes a $162-million commitment from the Texas Water Development Board’s State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, representing 80% of the total cost, with the district providing $40.5 million in local funds.

The board approved the project’s first $40-million financing tranche in July 2024 and followed with a July 2025 resolution authorizing a Revenue Series 2025 bond sale for the Harpool expansion as part of a $2.9-billion statewide infrastructure package. Construction began in November 2024 and is scheduled for completion in October 2028.

“As the construction manager, we’re responsible for procurement of major process and electrical equipment, coordination of contractors across multiple GMP packages, and commissioning new facilities alongside existing systems,” said Ikenna Okeke, senior project manager at McCarthy.

Aerial view of the Tom Harpool Regional Water Treatment Plant in Providence Village, Texas, where McCarthy Building Companies has begun a $202.5-million Phase 2 expansion that will double capacity to 60 million gallons per day.
Image courtesy of Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

“Our team identified more than 30 major tie-ins that will occur while maintaining plant operations, so early planning and constructability reviews were essential to minimize disruption,” he added.

Water District Executive Director Larry N. Patterson said the project reflects years of collaboration with Carollo and McCarthy to expand treatment capacity while modernizing operations. He credited financing through the Texas Water Development Board’s program, calling it “vital to ensuring reliable water service” for the fast-growing communities.

The expansion introduces a microfiltration membrane system designed for modular scalability and easier maintenance, along with a “flash mix” chemical dosing process that uses the raw water’s own energy to blend treatment chemicals—reducing mechanical maintenance and energy demand.

Added features include gravity-fed loops and water-reuse ponds intended to improve operational efficiency and resiliency.

Lars Erickson, McCarthy vice president of preconstruction, said the team’s phased delivery approach is critical to keeping the plant online throughout construction.

The design calls for a new membrane-complex building, a 6-million-gallon clearwell tank and upgraded pumping systems to meet projected regional demand, which is expected to rise to 159 mgd by 2040.

Key milestones include completion of the new storage tank and pumps by mid-2027 and full commissioning by late 2028.

McCarthy is self-performing major mechanical, piping and concrete work, with early procurement for membrane and electrical systems already underway to maintain schedule.

Project team members from McCarthy, the Upper Trinity Regional Water District and Carollo Engineers mark the groundbreaking for the Harpool Water Treatment Plant Phase 2 expansion in Providence Village, Texas.
Image courtesy of Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

According to the company’s announcement, key construction and trade partners include H₂O Innovations, Alterman Inc., Smith Pump Co. Inc., The Scruggs Co., J&S Valves and DN Tanks. Okeke said Alterman will perform the electrical scope, while DN Tanks is constructing the 6-million-gallon clearwell.

The Harpool expansion is one of several district projects backed by the state water board, including the Taylor Regional Water Treatment Plant Expansion and the Northeast Transmission Pipelines program, both approved for Series 2025 revenue bonds.

District officials say those investments are central to long-term planning as the agency prepares for continued growth across North Texas.

“The Harpool Phase 2 expansion isn’t just a project—it’s a regional lifeline,” said Jason Pierce, the district’s director of governmental affairs and communication. “It will help ensure that the district keeps pace with population growth while strengthening our resilience for decades to come.”

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