Baytown Area Water Authority and Baytown Waterworks Partners Break Ground on East Surface Water Treatment Plant Phase II

Baytown Area Water Authority and Baytown Waterworks Partners, a joint venture between McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Carollo Engineers, are pleased to announce they have broken ground on Phase II of the Baytown Area Water Authority East Surface Water Treatment Plant, a progressive design-build expansion that will increase the facility’s treatment capacity from 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 12 MGD. This milestone marks a major investment in long-term, reliable surface water supplies for the Baytown area. 

Through a progressive design-build delivery, Baytown Waterworks Partners has collaborated closely with Baytown Area Water Authority, in conjunction with BGE Engineering who serves as the Owner’s Advisor, from early design and will continue to collaborate through construction to advance technical solutions, manage risk, and efficiently deliver the expanded facilities. The plant expansion is expected to be fully functional at target capacity by summer 2028. 

“Projects like these reflect a lot of planning and a shared commitment to serving our community,” said Brenda Smith, Board President, Baytown Area Water Authority. “Our responsibility is to plan ahead and look to the future, and that is why we are supporting this expansion. We are proud of this project and look forward to a successful completion.”  

A critical surface water investment for Baytown’s future 

The second phase of the East Surface Water Treatment Plant, initially delivered in 2021, will provide additional treated surface water capacity to help meet growing demand, enhance system reliability, and support regional planning efforts. The expansion will build on the existing plant’s footprint and processes to deliver an additional 6 MGD of capacity and associated infrastructure, helping Baytown Area Water Authority better manage peak demands, emergency conditions, and long-term growth. 

“Baytown Area Water Authority’s investment in the East Surface Water Treatment Plant is exactly the kind of forward-looking infrastructure the region needs,” said Russell Schulze, Project Director, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. “By leveraging a progressive design-build approach with our partner Carollo Engineers, we’re able to collaboratively deliver a complex expansion that will double the plant’s capacity while maintaining reliable service throughout construction securing a long-term surface water supply for the Baytown community.”  

“Expanding an existing facility like this one requires close collaboration and coordination across the designer, builder, owner’s advisor, and owner staff. We’re grateful for the thoughtful input from Baytown Area Water Authority and BGE, and our strong partnership with McCarthy Building Companies on a facility that will improve operations resilience, enhance operator safety, and serve the Baytown community well into the future,” said Xi Zhao, Project Engineer, Carollo Engineers. 

Baytown Waterworks Partners’ scope under this progressive design-build contract includes planning, design, and construction of the treatment plant expansion and related improvements necessary to reliably and safely deliver the full 12 MGD of treated surface water capacity for the community. 

About Baytown Area Water Authority 

Baytown Area Water Authority is a regional provider of wholesale water services for the Baytown, Texas area, working with local partners to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to residents and businesses. The Authority is focused on long-term water supply planning, investment in critical infrastructure, and responsible stewardship of local water resources to support the community’s continued growth and resilience. For more information, please visit https://www.baytown.org/  

About Baytown Waterworks Partners 

Baytown Waterworks Partners is a joint venture between McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Carollo Engineers, Inc. formed to deliver the Baytown Area Water Authority East Surface Water Treatment Plant Phase II project through a progressive design-build contract. The joint venture brings together McCarthy’s national water construction experience and Carollo’s specialized water engineering expertise to collaboratively plan, design, and construct critical water infrastructure for the Baytown area. 

About McCarthy 

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy) is the oldest privately held national construction company in America. With more than 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients, McCarthy is committed to delivering superior results and creating great experiences for everyone. McCarthy approaches every job with the mindset of a true builder, self-performing critical scopes of work to deliver accountability and consistency from start to finish. Through industry-leading design phase and construction techniques, combined with value-add technology, McCarthy drives smarter solutions and maximizes project outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked among the largest domestic builders by Engineering News-Record. With thousands of salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm maintains offices across the United States, including multiple locations in Texas. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

About Carollo Engineers 

For over 90 years, Carollo Engineers has provided a full range of innovative planning, design, and construction management services to address the water needs of municipalities, public agencies, private developers, and industrial clients. Carollo develops robust water management strategies that leverage collaboration, provide multi-benefit solutions, and achieve sustainability and resilience. Carollo has 1,900 employees located in more than 60 offices across North America. To learn more about how Carollo is “Working Wonders With Water®” call (800) 523-5826 or visit www.carollo.com 

About BGE Engineering 

Since 1975, BGE, Inc. has served public and private clients as a full-service, multidiscipline engineering consulting firm with integrated capabilities. BGE delivers a broad range of advisory services, technical expertise, and innovative, sustainable solutions to support local, regional, and national communities as they shape the future of infrastructure. Backed by five decades of civil engineering leadership, BGE partners with clients across the Southeast and beyond to solve complex infrastructure challenges. Explore our consulting services and solutions: https://www.bgeinc.com/