McCarthy Building Cos. has begun 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 in Denton and Collin counties, is performing work under a construction manager-at-risk contract with McCarthy and engineer Carollo Engineers. The district’s 950 square kilometer service area includes about 400,000 residents, projected to exceed one million by 2045 as the suburbs of Dallas–Fort Worth continue to expand northward.
The funding includes a $162 million commitment from the Texas Water Implementation State Revenue Fund for Texas, which represents 80 percent of the total cost, and the district is contributing $40.5 million in local funds.
The board approved the first $40 million tranche of financing for the project in July 2024 and followed with a July 2025 resolution authorizing a 2025 revenue series bond sale for the Harpool expansion as part of a $2.9 billion state infrastructure package. Construction began in November 2024 and is scheduled for completion in October 2028.
“As construction manager, we are responsible for procurement of major electrical and process equipment, coordinating contractors on various GMP packages, and commissioning new facilities alongside existing systems,” said Ikenna Okeke, McCarthy’s Senior Project Manager.
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 connections that will occur while maintaining plant operations, so early reviews of planning and construction capacity 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 the funding through the Texas Water Development Board program, calling it “vital to ensuring reliable water service” for 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 raw water’s own energy to combine treatment chemicals, reducing mechanical maintenance and energy demand.
Added features include gravity fed loops and water reuse ponds intended to improve operational efficiency and resilience.
Lars Erickson, McCarthy’s 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 clear tank and improved pumping systems to meet projected regional demand, which is expected to increase to 159 mgd by 2040.
Key milestones include completion of the new storage tank and pumps in mid-2027 and full commissioning in late 2028.
McCarthy is doing the major mechanical, piping and concrete work himself, with pre-purchase of electrical and membrane systems already underway to keep on schedule.
Project team members from McCarthy, the Upper Trinity Regional Water District and Carollo engineers mark the groundbreaking for the Phase 2 expansion of the Harpool Water Treatment Plant in Providence Village, Texas.
Image courtesy of Upper Trinity Regional Water District.
According to the company’s announcement, major commercial and construction 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 reach, while DN Tanks is building the 6 million gallon clear well.
The Harpool expansion is one of several projects in the district supported by the state water board, including the expansion of the Taylor Regional Water Treatment Plant and the Northeast Transmission Pipeline program, both approved for Series 2025 revenue bonds.
District officials say these investments are critical to long-term planning as the agency prepares for continued growth in North Texas.
“Harpool’s Phase 2 expansion is not just a project, it’s a regional lifeline,” said Jason Pierce, the district’s director of government affairs and communications. “It will help ensure the district keeps pace with population growth while strengthening our resilience for decades to come.”
