DENTON, Texas — Amid a statewide surge in vital infrastructure investments, construction has officially commenced on a major overhaul of the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant in Denton, Texas. Sundt Construction, a prominent national builder headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, has broken ground on the $92 million expansion project. The initiative is designed to drastically increase the facility’s wastewater treatment capacity, ensuring the growing North Texas region can sustainably support its booming population well into the coming decades.
The project is moving forward under a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract awarded to Sundt by the city of Denton earlier this year. As municipal leaders, construction executives, and project stakeholders gathered on-site for a ceremonial groundbreaking, enthusiasm was high regarding the project’s ability to future-proof local municipal utilities.
Main Facts
The modernization and expansion of the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant is a complex, multi-faceted civil engineering undertaking aimed at upgrading municipal wastewater processing.
Key scopes of the $92 million project include:
- New Headworks Facility: Construction of a state-of-the-art headworks facility designed to process 75 million gallons per day (MGD).
- Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Integration: A 30-million-gallon-per-day buildout leveraging advanced membrane bioreactor technology to ensure high-purity water treatment and stringent environmental compliance.
- Subsurface Infrastructure Upgrades: Comprehensive overhaul and modernization of underground utilities across the site.
- Footprint Optimization: Upgrading and integrating new processing units within the boundaries of the original plant footprint without disrupting current operations.
The project is governed by a guaranteed maximum price contract, a delivery method that provides the city of Denton with financial protection against cost overruns while streamlining the construction phase under Sundt’s expert oversight.
Chronology of the Project
The journey toward the modernization of the Pecan Creek facility spans rigorous municipal planning, competitive contracting, and strategic milestone execution:
- February 2026: Following a competitive procurement process, the Denton City Council officially awards Sundt Construction the $92 million guaranteed maximum price contract for the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant expansion.
- Spring & Summer 2026: Sundt’s water and wastewater division finalize engineering pre-planning, material procurement, and site logistics to guarantee that ongoing plant operations remain untouched while heavy civil preparations begin.
- September 18, 2026: City officials, community leaders, and Sundt representatives gather at the Pecan Creek facility for an official groundbreaking ceremony, marking the transition from pre-construction planning to physical groundwork.
- September 23, 2026: Sundt Construction formally issues a public announcement celebrating the commencement of construction, drawing statewide attention to the rapidly expanding North Texas water infrastructure sector.
Supporting Data and Demographic Pressures
The impetus behind the Pecan Creek expansion is rooted in undeniable demographic trends. Denton, located in the northern sector of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, is experiencing unprecedented residential and commercial development.
According to official data from the 2020 United States Census, Denton’s population hovered around 150,000 residents. However, projections from the city’s economic development partnership indicate that the municipality is on track to surpass 200,000 residents by 2030. This rapid 33% growth trajectory places immense pressure on local infrastructure, particularly water and wastewater systems that must scale proportionally to protect public health and the environment.
The Broader Texas Water Infrastructure Boom
Denton’s investment is part of a much larger statewide trend. Over the past 12 to 24 months, Texas municipalities have funneled billions of dollars into water reclamation and treatment facilities to combat persistent drought conditions, climate shifts, and hyper-growth. Notable concurrent projects across the Lone Star State include:
- Ferrovial’s Texas Portfolio: Last fall, global infrastructure giant Ferrovial secured a massive $721 million portfolio of water and wastewater projects spanning Austin and Fort Worth.
- San Marcos Reclamation Project: Engineering firm Burns & McDonnell secured an $80 million water reclamation job in the city of San Marcos to upgrade its capacity.
- Lewisville Treatment Plant Expansion: Crescent Constructors—acquired by Zachry Construction in 2025—won an $89 million treatment plant expansion project in nearby Lewisville earlier this summer.
These projects underscore a collective realization among Texas civic leaders: robust, high-capacity water infrastructure is the absolute backbone of sustained economic prosperity.
Official Responses
Project leaders and regional executives emphasized the technical ingenuity required to execute the expansion while maintaining continuous, uninterrupted service to current residents.
"Through advanced treatment solutions and strategic phasing, we’re delivering critical improvements while keeping the existing facility fully operational and untouched throughout the construction of their new improvements," said Matt Bothun, Texas regional manager for Sundt’s water and wastewater group.
Bothun’s remarks highlight a core engineering challenge of municipal expansions: building a new plant around and within an active, legacy facility without triggering service outages or compromising regulatory compliance. By leveraging advanced phasing and cutting-edge MBR technology, Sundt’s engineering team can integrate high-capacity systems into a compact footprint.
City officials in Denton have similarly praised the partnership with Sundt, emphasizing that the guaranteed maximum price contract safeguards taxpayer interests while delivering top-tier civil infrastructure. The collaboration ensures that the city’s environmental standards will be met or exceeded as wastewater flows inevitably increase over the next decade.
Implications for the Region
The completion of the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant expansion carries profound implications for Denton and the broader North Texas region:
1. Environmental Protection and Regulatory Compliance
As wastewater volumes rise, regulatory frameworks governing discharge into local watersheds become increasingly strict. The implementation of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology allows for superior filtration and biological treatment, producing exceptionally clean effluent. This safeguards local aquatic ecosystems, including nearby waterways and reservoirs, ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental protection standards.
2. Economic Development and Housing Capacity
Water and wastewater capacity serve as the primary bottleneck for real estate development. Without assured utility capacity, municipalities are forced to halt commercial and residential permits. By expanding the Pecan Creek plant to handle an influx of new residents, Denton secures its economic future. Housing developments, industrial parks, and commercial hubs can proceed with confidence, knowing the city’s utility infrastructure can support long-term growth through 2030 and beyond.
3. Civil Construction Market Momentum
For the commercial construction sector, the Pecan Creek project reinforces the resilience of the heavy civil and water infrastructure market. While other sectors of commercial real estate may experience cyclical fluctuations based on interest rates and private financing, public infrastructure spending remains remarkably robust. Funded by municipal bonds, state water funds, and public-private partnerships, civil contractors specializing in water treatment—such as Sundt Construction—are positioned for a sustained pipeline of lucrative, long-term projects across Texas.
As shovels continue to move dirt at the Pecan Creek site, the project stands as a testament to proactive municipal planning. By investing heavily in state-of-the-art reclamation technology today, Denton is effectively building the foundation for a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous community of tomorrow.
