TCEQ permits are taking 18-24 months. We get developers approved in weeks using alternative strategies that bypass the traditional queue. Stop bleeding money while waiting on TCEQ.
Engineering built for outcomes, not overhead
We don’t bill by the hour and watch the clock. We price around outcomes and results. You get an engineering partner focused on getting your project permitted, not padding timesheets.
Your deal timeline matters. Time to permit and time to construction sit beside hydraulics and code in our process. Delays cost more than drawings, so we engineer with schedule as a core constraint.
We talk in cost, timeline, and risk, not jargon. Your pro forma matters to us because we understand that engineering decisions are business decisions. No translation needed.
No handoffs between departments. No chasing multiple firms. From your first call to construction closeout, you work with one team that knows your project inside and out.
We take Texas developers from land acquisition to groundbreaking. While other firms hand you off between departments, we keep everything moving under one roof. Here's how we get your project permitted and construction-ready, fast.
Not sure if you need a package plant, concrete WWTP, or reuse system? We evaluate your site, flows, and budget to recommend the right treatment approach. You get clear options with real cost comparisons before you commit to a path.
TCEQ discharge permits are taking 18-24 months. We use reuse permits, irrigation discharge, and alternative strategies to get you approved in weeks. Same result, fraction of the time. We know the fastest path for your specific site.
Permitting and construction drawings happen in parallel. We deliver permit-ready civil plans, utility layouts, and technical details that get approved the first time. Clean drawings that don’t come back with a stack of review comments.
Excess stormwater entering your sewer system causes capacity problems and permit issues. We identify where infiltration and inflow are occurring and design solutions that reduce flows and keep your system compliant with TCEQ requirements.
We model your collection and distribution systems to identify capacity constraints, pressure issues, and future expansion needs. You get data-driven design decisions that prevent costly surprises during construction or after tenants move in.
From gravity sewers to force mains, we design collection systems sized for your development’s actual flows. Whether you’re connecting to a city system or feeding a private WWTP, we engineer systems that work from day one.
When gravity won’t work, you need a lift station that’s reliable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain. We design lift stations sized for your flows with the right pumps, controls, and redundancy to keep your system running.
We don’t disappear after the permit is approved. We stay engaged through construction with submittal reviews, RFI responses, and site visits. When issues come up, you have an engineer who knows your project inside and out.
Founded in 2018, Modern Engineering has quickly become a trusted partner for Texas developers navigating complex wastewater challenges, earning a 94% client retention rate and completing 285+ projects across Texas, Colorado, and beyond. We’ve helped developers get permitted faster, reduce infrastructure costs, and break ground sooner.
Our solutions go beyond basic permitting. From TCEQ strategy to site plans, construction drawings, and WWTP design, we craft solutions tailored to your specific site and timeline. And because permitting success never happens in isolation, we run permitting and construction drawings in parallel, working as one team from concept to closeout to deliver faster results and predictable outcomes.
Challenge Overcome: A traditional 1.0 MGD discharge permit in the San Marcos area would have faced significant opposition from environmental groups concerned about impacts to the San Marcos River and Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Public hearings and third-party referral processes typically extend discharge permits to 30+ months in this region. The 210E authorization completely avoided the contentious discharge permit process by implementing a zero-discharge system. Even with the larger flow volume requiring more detailed technical review, TCEQ approved the authorization in just 10 weeks—21 months faster than a discharge permit. The project’s data center component provided clear industrial justification, while the large-scale on-site irrigation capacity eliminated any surface water discharge concerns.
Location: San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Authorization Number: 2E-0000365
Time to Permit: 10 weeks
Time Saved vs. Discharge Permit: ~21 months
Project Type: Large-scale mixed-use development combining data center operations, commercial facilities, and supporting infrastructure
Wastewater Profile:
Reuse Strategy:
Challenge Overcome: Discharge permits in Caldwell County near the San Marcos River watershed face intense scrutiny from regional water authorities and environmental advocacy groups. Public hearings attended by Modern Engineering Solutions staff for neighboring discharge permit applications revealed highly contentious 30+ month permitting timelines. The 210E pathway bypassed this opposition entirely, securing approval in just 4 weeks by demonstrating beneficial agricultural reuse. The project’s 2.0 MGD scale, one of the largest 210E authorizations issued to date for MES, proves that flow volume does not limit 210E applicability when industrial components and viable reuse plans are present. The off-site reuse agreement with Circle G Livestock provides long-term disposal certainty while supporting local agricultural operations.
Location: Martindale, Caldwell County, Texas
Authorization Number: 2E-0000348
Time to Permit: 4 weeks
Time Saved vs. Discharge Permit: ~23 months
Project Type: Master-planned mixed-use development combining residential subdivisions, data center operations, and concrete batch plant facilities
Wastewater Profile:
Reuse Strategy:
Challenge Overcome: Williamson County denied septic permit approval due to platting issues and site constraints that made conventional on-site wastewater treatment infeasible. The 210E authorization bypassed county jurisdiction entirely, allowing the project to proceed under state-level TCEQ oversight with a zero-discharge reclaimed water system. The 4-week approval timeline enabled the developer to maintain construction schedules and avoid costly project delays.
Location: Taylor, Williamson County, Texas
Authorization Number: 2E-0000369
Time to Permit: 4 weeks
Time Saved vs. Discharge Permit: ~23 months
Project Type: Mixed-use business park combining industrial operations with commercial/office facilities
Wastewater Profile:
Reuse Strategy:
Challenge Overcome: Williamson County denied the septic permit due to concerns about industrial wastewater constituents and site-specific geological limitations. Traditional on-site disposal was not viable, and a discharge permit would have faced lengthy review and potential opposition. The 210E pathway provided a clean industrial reclaimed water solution in 6 weeks, allowing the facility to commence operations on schedule. The self-contained on-site reuse eliminates any off-site discharge concerns and provides complete operational control.
Location: Taylor, Williamson County, Texas
Authorization Number: 2E-0000358
Time to Permit: 6 weeks
Time Saved vs. Discharge Permit: ~22 months
Project Type: Industrial-only facility with process wastewater and equipment cleaning operations
Wastewater Profile:
Reuse Strategy:
Traditional discharge permits are taking 18-24+ months right now due to TCEQ backlog and staffing shortages. But not every permit takes that long. With reuse permits, irrigation discharge, and alternative strategies, we’ve gotten approvals in as little as 8 weeks. The right strategy makes all the difference, and we help you pick the fastest path before you commit.
A discharge permit allows you to release treated wastewater into a waterway like a creek or river. These go through TCEQ’s main queue and take 18-24 months. A reuse permit (like 210E or TLAP) allows you to use treated wastewater for irrigation, industrial processes, or sale to water buyers. Reuse permits bypass the traditional queue and can be approved in weeks, not years.
Yes. We’ve helped developers pivot mid-project to faster permitting strategies. If your current approach is stalled, we can evaluate alternatives like reuse, irrigation discharge, or permit modifications that may get you approved faster. Sometimes a strategy shift saves 12+ months.
We work across Texas, with deep experience in DFW (Ellis, Denton, Tarrant, Dallas counties), Austin area (Hays, Bastrop, Williamson, Travis), Houston area (Fort Bend, Montgomery, Harris), and San Antonio (Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe). If you’re building in the ETJ or unincorporated areas, we likely know the regulatory landscape.
Absolutely. We provide feasibility assessments during your due diligence window so you know the utility costs, permitting pathways, and risks before you close. A 2-week assessment can save you from a 24-month problem. We help you know what you’re buying before you sign.
We do both. From concept drawings through construction-ready plan sets, we handle permitting and design in parallel. Site plans, utility layouts, construction drawings, and WWTP design, all under one roof. One team, no gaps, no chasing multiple firms.
Commercial warehouses, industrial parks, mixed-use developments, data centers, manufacturing facilities, food distribution, cold storage, and logistics centers. If you’re building outside city limits and need wastewater solutions, we can help. Our sweet spot is projects in the ETJ or unincorporated areas where city utilities aren’t available.
Yes. From package plants to custom concrete systems, we design treatment systems sized for your flows and budget. We handle equipment vendor coordination, reuse system design, and everything needed to get your plant permitted, built, and operating. Capacities from 25K to 500K+ GPD.
We often work alongside site civil engineers. They handle grading, paving, and drainage. We handle the specialized water and wastewater scope. It’s a clean division that keeps the project on track. We can integrate with your existing team or take the lead on utilities, whichever works best for your project.
We can typically start within 1-2 weeks of signing a contract. For urgent feasibility assessments during due diligence, we can often begin within days. We understand developer timelines are compressed, and we staff accordingly to respond quickly when you need us.
We offer fixed-price options for most scopes so you can budget accurately. You know what you’re paying before we start, and you won’t get surprised with hourly overruns. For ongoing or variable-scope work, we provide clear hourly rates with regular budget updates. No games, no padded timesheets.
You’ll work directly with licensed Professional Engineers who know your project inside and out. We don’t hand you off to junior staff after the proposal is signed. Senior engineers stay engaged from kickoff to closeout, and you’ll have a direct line to the people doing the work.
We respond to emails the same day. We pick up the phone. No 2-week wait times. When your deal is on the line, you need engineers who move as fast as you do. Fast communication is part of how we operate, not an exception.
Yes. We’re licensed in Texas and have PE stamps available for all our service states, including Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and Kansas. For Texas projects, all deliverables are reviewed and stamped by Texas-licensed Professional Engineers.
Modern Engineering was founded in 2018 by Michael Groselle, P.E. Since then, we’ve completed 285+ projects across 8 states with a 94% client retention rate. We’ve grown to a team of 40 professionals focused exclusively on water and wastewater engineering.
Speed, communication, and focus. Large firms move slow, treat developers as low-priority clients, and take weeks to respond. We move as fast as your deal requires, communicate in developer language (cost, timeline, risk), and focus exclusively on water and wastewater. You get senior-level attention without the big-firm bureaucracy.
No. We also work with municipalities, water districts, and engineering firms who need overflow support or specialized water/wastewater expertise. But our Texas developer practice is built specifically for commercial and industrial projects in the ETJ and unincorporated areas, and we understand the unique challenges you face.
Our headquarters is in Golden, Colorado, with a second office in McKinney, Texas. Our team works remotely across multiple states, which allows us to staff projects efficiently and respond quickly regardless of location. For Texas projects, we have local engineers familiar with TCEQ and county-specific requirements.
Ready To Get Your Project Permitted Faster?
Contact us at Modern Engineering today to learn how we can cut months off your permitting timeline and get your project to construction faster
Ryan@mod-eng.com,
Sales@mod-eng.com
