CITY OF SAN MARCOS
The Burns & McDonnell engineering firm has been selected to deliver a new two-million-gallonper- day water reclamation facility for the city of San Marcos.
The new facility is a water reclamation facility that treats used water from homes, businesses, and industries to provide sanitation and protect public. Through advanced treatment processes, it removes contaminants and restores the water to a quality suitable for purposes such as irrigation, industrial operations, or discharge into a local stream or river.
“We’re proud to help San Marcos meet its critical wastewater infrastructure needs,” says Sarah Isbell, leader of the Water Group for Burns & McDonnell in Texas. “Our progressive design-build approach gives us the ability to collaborate early, make informed decisions and accelerate delivery — all while keeping the city’s priorities front and center.”
The new FM 1978 Water Reclamation Facility will be located along Fleming Pass, approximately 1.75 miles northeast of the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1978 and State Highway 123.
The city has entered into a cost-sharing agreement with several residential developers to provide a centralized wastewater treatment facility to support their planned homebuilding schedule. As part of the agreement, the city has committed to providing wastewater service to developers as new homes are occupied, in advance of the permanent water reclamation facility completion The FM 1978 Water Reclamation Facility is being built to support new growth and development southeast of San Marcos, in areas that currently lack access to the city’s existing wastewater infrastructure. The facility will initially treat up to two-milliongallons per day, with plans to expand capacity to 8 million gallons per day as demand increases. It is designed to serve residential and commercial developments in the surrounding region. The future buildout of the facility will also include an option for “purple pipe” reuse for irrigation or other non-drinking water purposes, similar to the existing River Road facility.
To support the city in meeting this commitment, Burns & McDonnell will implement a fast-tracked interim wastewater management system while concurrently designing the permanent facility. The firm’s integrated team brings the ability to manage both phases under a single contract, providing continuity, speed and cost efficiency, according to Burns & McDonnell .
“Having a forwardlooking project that meets the needs of developers who are participating in a cost sharing agreement and for the area’s high growth potential, it is essential that we have the right team to execute the design and construction of this facility,” says Tyler Hjorth, Director of Utilities for the city of San Marcos. “Burns & McDonnell is the perfect fit for us to meet schedule, budget and the innovation we are looking for. We are truly looking forward to this partnership delivering a world class project that will meet our immediate and long-range needs.”
The new facility is part of the city’s broader plan to accommodate population growth while protecting public health and the environment.
“This project exemplifies the value of experience, regional knowledge and integrated delivery,” Isbell says. “We’re excited to bring the full strength of our team to a community that’s shaping the future of Central Texas.”
The project is utilizing a progressive designbuild delivery method, providing the opportunity for construction to start on portions of the project while the overall engineering effort is completed. Engineering began in July 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Early works packages for construction are anticipated to start in January of 2026 with a substantial completion date of August 2028.
