Find the Right TCEQ Permit Path Before You File

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Find the Right TCEQ Permit Path Before You File

For a new domestic discharge permit, TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins. Some projects qualify for a 210E reuse authorization instead, which has no public notice step. We find the path your site qualifies for before you commit money to one. Stop bleeding money while waiting on TCEQ.

• A 210E reuse authorization, where your project qualifies, with no public notice step
• Carrying costs weighed in the permit path decision
• A schedule built on TCEQ's published steps, not guesses

Talk to an engineer

We’ll contact qualified projects to talk through next steps.

How We Work

Engineering built for outcomes, not overhead

Outcomes, Not Padded Timesheets

We offer fixed-price options for most scopes, so you know the cost before work starts. You get an engineering partner focused on getting your project permitted, not padding timesheets.

Speed as a design input

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.

Deep work, not meeting culture

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.

Less admin, more engineering

We use AI to reduce admin overhead, so our engineers can focus on getting you results. A licensed PE makes every technical call.

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.

What We Handle For You

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.

Our Process

Concept → Permitting + Drawings (parallel) → Construction

Wastewater Treatment Planning

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 Permitting

A new domestic discharge permit carries public notice, a comment period and the chance of a contested case hearing, and TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins. When your project qualifies, a 210E reuse authorization has no public notice step. TCEQ’s own training slides on industrial reuse authorizations estimate about 60 to 90 days from submittal. That is TCEQ’s estimate, not a promise. If the stream has any domestic wastewater in it, it is commingled water, and §210.56(a)(1) puts it under the domestic reclaimed water rules, including §210.2(e), which covers the permit or authorization a reclaimed water producer holds for its treatment facility. Confirm that path with TCEQ early. A Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) for irrigation is another option, but it follows the same notice steps as a discharge permit. We know the right path for your specific site.

Construction Drawings

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.

Infiltration and Inflow Analysis

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.

Hydraulic Modeling

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.

Collection System Design

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.

Lift Station Design

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.

Construction Administration

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.

Need Different Services?

About Modern Engineering Solutions

Your Partner in Engineering Success

Founded in 2018, Modern Engineering has quickly become a trusted partner for Texas developers navigating complex wastewater challenges, and has completed 525+ projects across Texas, Colorado, and beyond. We’ve helped developers choose the right permit path, reduce infrastructure costs, and keep projects moving toward groundbreaking.

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 predictable outcomes.

Why Choose Modern Engineering Solutions

• TCEQ Permitting Expertise.

  Part of what sets us apart is our deep knowledge of TCEQ's process, reviewers, and alternative pathways. Where a project qualifies, we use 210E reuse authorizations, which have no public notice step. Where it does not, we plan the discharge permit or TLAP around TCEQ’s 330-day filing guidance.

• Engineers Who Speak Developer.

  What also sets us apart from other engineering firms is how we communicate. We talk in cost, timeline, and risk, not technical jargon. Your pro forma matters to us because we understand engineering decisions are business decisions.

• Full-Service Delivery.

  Part of what makes us the right partner for Texas developers is our ability to handle everything under one roof. Permitting, site plans, construction drawings, and WWTP design, all coordinated by one team that knows your project inside and out.

• Speed As A Core Constraint.

  Another aspect that makes us different is how we treat your timeline. 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 priority.

• PE-Reviewed Deliverables.

  To ensure you get quality work every time, every plan set and report is reviewed by a licensed Professional Engineer before delivery. You get clean, complete drawings that get approved the first time, not work that comes back with a stack of comments.

• Responsive Communication.

  What also sets us apart is our approach to communication. We pick up the phone, and we answer email. When your deal is on the line, you need engineers who move as fast as you do.

• Predictable Project Costs.

  We aim to help developers budget accurately with fixed-price options and clear scopes. You know what you're paying before we start, and you won't get surprised with hourly overruns at the end.

• Proven Track Record.

  As a firm focused on water and wastewater engineering, we have completed 525+ projects across Texas, Colorado, and beyond. Commercial warehouses, industrial parks, package WWTPs, we've seen the problems and we know how to solve them.

Projects

Mixed-use development in San Marcos, Texas

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. A discharge permit carries public notice, a comment period and the chance of a contested case hearing. The project took the 210E path with a zero-discharge reuse system instead of a new surface water discharge. The larger flow volume required more detailed technical review. For a new discharge permit, TCEQ’s own guidance is to file at least 330 days before discharge begins. The project’s industrial component provided clear justification, while the large-scale on-site irrigation capacity eliminated any surface water discharge concerns.

Location: San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Authorization: TCEQ 210E
Discharge Permit Path: TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins
Project Type: Large-scale mixed-use development combining industrial uses, commercial facilities, and supporting infrastructure

Wastewater Profile:

• Design flow: 1,000,000 gallons per day (1.0 MGD)
• Waste streams: Domestic wastewater, cooling systems, equipment cleaning, humidification processes, truck washout, stormwater runoff

Reuse Strategy:

• On-site irrigation for extensive campus landscaping and common areas
• Fire protection for on-site buildings (self-contained on-site reuse)

Mixed-use development near Martindale, Texas

Challenge Overcome: Discharge permits in Caldwell County near the San Marcos River watershed face intense scrutiny from regional water authorities and environmental advocacy groups. Modern Engineering Solutions staff attended public hearings on neighboring discharge permit applications and saw how contested they were. The 210E pathway, which has no public notice step, rested on a beneficial agricultural reuse plan. The off-site reuse agreement with a local livestock operation provides long-term disposal certainty while supporting local agricultural operations.

Location: Martindale, Caldwell County, Texas
Authorization: TCEQ 210E
Discharge Permit Path: TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins
Project Type: Master-planned mixed-use development combining residential subdivisions, data center operations, and concrete batch plant facilities

Wastewater Profile:

• Design flow: 2,000,000 gallons per day (2.0 MGD)
• Waste stream composition: Municipal wastewater: most of the design flow, Data center wastewater: 120,000 gpd (6.0%), Concrete batch plant: 600 gpd (0.03%)

Reuse Strategy:

• Off-site agricultural irrigation at a local tree farm and sod operation
• 53 acre-foot storage reservoir

Business park in Taylor, Texas

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 moved the project to state-level TCEQ oversight with a zero-discharge reclaimed water system, which let the developer keep its construction schedule.

Location: Taylor, Williamson County, Texas
Authorization: TCEQ 210E
Discharge Permit Path: TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins
Project Type: Mixed-use business park combining industrial operations with commercial/office facilities

Wastewater Profile:

• Design flow: 6,700 gallons per day
• Waste streams: Domestic wastewater, cooling systems, equipment cleaning, facility maintenance

Reuse Strategy:

• On-site irrigation for business park landscaping
• Fire protection system (self-contained on-site reuse)

Industrial site in Taylor, Texas

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, 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: TCEQ 210E
Discharge Permit Path: TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins
Project Type: Industrial-only facility with process wastewater and equipment cleaning operations

Wastewater Profile:

• Design flow: 5,000 gallons per day
• Waste streams: Domestic wastewater, process wastewater, industrial washwater

Reuse Strategy:

• On-site landscape irrigation
• Fire protection system (self-contained on-site reuse)

Got Questions? We've Got Answers!

TCEQ & Permitting

How long does a TCEQ permit really take?

For a new domestic discharge permit, TCEQ asks applicants to file at least 330 days before discharge begins, and public notice, comments and any contested case hearing fall inside that window. A 210E reuse authorization has no public notice step, and TCEQ’s training slides estimate about 60 to 90 days from submittal. Those are TCEQ’s figures, not guarantees, and a notice of deficiency adds time. The right strategy makes all the difference, and we help you pick the right path before you commit.

What's the difference between discharge and reuse permits?

There are three paths, and where your treated water goes decides which ones you can use. A TPDES discharge permit lets you release treated wastewater into a creek or river, and it carries public notice, a comment period and the chance of a contested case hearing. A Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) covers disposal by irrigation or other land application, and it follows the same notice steps. A 210E authorization covers reuse of industrial wastewater and has no public notice step. Industrial wastewater with any domestic wastewater in it is commingled water: under §210.56(a)(1) it falls under the domestic reclaimed water rules, including §210.2(e), so confirm the path with TCEQ early. An all-domestic project does not qualify for 210E. We check which paths fit your site before you file.

Can you help if we're already stuck in the TCEQ queue?

Yes. We’ve helped developers pivot mid-project to a different permitting strategy. If your current approach is stalled, we can evaluate alternatives like a 210E reuse authorization, if your project qualifies, or permit modifications. Sometimes a strategy shift is the fix.

What happens if TCEQ rejects our submittal?

A rejection resets the review clock. The redesigned resubmittal goes back through TCEQ review while your carrying costs keep running. That is why we confirm the right permit path, and check the design against it, before the first submittal.

What counties in Texas do you work in?

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 local rules.

Project & Services

Can you help during due diligence before we close on land?

Absolutely. We provide feasibility assessments during your due diligence window so you know the utility costs, permitting pathways, and risks before you close. An early assessment can keep you out of a permit path that does not fit your site. We help you know what you’re buying before you sign.

Do you only do permitting, or can you handle design too?

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.

What types of projects do you work on?

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.

Do you design wastewater treatment plants?

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 25,000 GPD to 2 MGD.

What if my site civil engineer is already handling utilities?

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.

Working With Us

How fast can you start on a new project?

We confirm a start date with you before you sign. For urgent feasibility assessments during due diligence, tell us your deadline up front. We understand developer timelines are compressed, and we staff accordingly to respond quickly when you need us.

How do you charge for your services?

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.

Who will we be working with?

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.

What's your response time like?

We pick up the phone, and we answer email. 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.

Are you licensed in Texas?

Yes. We’re licensed in Texas and have PE stamps available for all our service states, including Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, and New Mexico. For Texas projects, all deliverables are reviewed and stamped by Texas-licensed Professional Engineers.

About Modern Engineering Solutions

How long have you been in business?

Modern Engineering was founded in 2018 by Michael Groselle, P.E. Since then, we’ve completed 525+ projects across Texas and beyond. We focus on water engineering, wastewater engineering and site civil engineering for land development.

What makes you different from larger engineering firms?

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.

Do you only work with developers?

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.

Where are you located?

Our headquarters is in McKinney, Texas, with offices in Golden, Colorado, and San Jose, California. 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.

Happy Success Stories

"Working with MES Engineers has been an absolute pleasure. Under the exceptional leadership of Michael, their team has consistently delivered outstanding results. Not only are they incredibly capable and knowledgeable, but they also exhibit a remarkable level of friendliness and intelligence.

One of the things I admire most about the team at MES Engineers is their patience and willingness to address any questions or concerns I may have had throughout our collaboration. They truly value customer input and are adept at incorporating feedback into their work.

Furthermore, their proactive approach to problem-solving has been instrumental in ensuring the success of our project. I am confident that with their expertise and dedication, our future endeavors will be equally successful.I highly recommend MES Engineers to anyone seeking top-notch engineering services. I look forward to our continued cooperation on future projects."

Alex Liang

We engaged with MES to obtain a permit for our [waste water treatment plant]. Mike and his team were successful in securing the permit much quicker than we anticipated. We will be using MES on all of our future projects because of their market knowledge and they are great people to work with.

John Petersen

We have worked with Modern Engineering Solutions on several projects. Michael’s Team is reliable and professional. We were pleased to work on every project MES have taken from us be it site plans or drainage plans. It is always a fulfilling experienced with Mike. Most importantly, due to his remote working structure among his team, it makes project deliver in less time than I used to get from my former office based civil engineers team.

Brett Hornung

Michael and his engineers team are great to work with. We have worked with Modern Engineering Solutions on a couple of disadvantaged communities projects and it is always great when civil engineer know exactly what is needed and how this can be done. Overall, it has been great working collaboration and hope to get more project done by his team.

Samantha Bykowski

I was referred to this company to have my front yard land drainage system design. It was immediately obvious that Michael was very knowledgeable about the process and took us through clear communication, and within a week we had proposal signed and he jumped onto the project in no time. His team did a FANTASTIC job, were polite and professional and answered all of my questions thoroughly. I have multiple projects coming up, I will definitely going back to Modern Engineering Solutions!

Karsten Guth

I have hired Modern Engineering Solutions on two separate occasions to visit my site in Milford, TX and help me with some big engineering questions. It was a great working experience. Michael is one of the top Civil Engineers in the Mckinney area and was very friendly and vastly knowledgeable. If anyone is looking for a Civil Engineer in the Mckinney area, then Mike is the person to go with.Michael is not only a great engineer; I consider him a friend as well after all of the work we have done together. Thanks for always taking care of us Mr. Groselle!!

Todd devilleneuve

Modern Engineering Solutions, LLC is the epitome of engineering excellence. Their team's professionalism, expertise, and dedication to client satisfaction make them a one-stop solution for any project. With clear communication and using latest technology for delivering project, they consistently deliver results that exceed expectations. Highly recommended!

Moe Q

If you are looking for a professional team in the city of McKinney, TX for civil engineering services, then there is no better team than the Engineers at Modern Engineering Solutions. It has been a great working experience and cost effective service for every dollar we have spent on the project design and project submittals.

Nadeem Raad

Amazing company to work with. I was in need of an AutoCAD Civil 3D designer for one of the my McKinney, TX projects and found an amazing team at Modern Engineering Solutions. I couldn't be happier with the service I received. The designer was able to take my ideas and turn them into a reality. The entire process was easy and painless. I would definitely recommend Modern Engineering Solutions to anyone in need of AutoCAD design services.

Dillon Cox

I'm pleased with the design of 2-acre mixed-use development in Corinth, Texas by Modern Engineering Solutions. They were very responsive and helpful in getting my project completed in a timely manner. This site had challenging topography and their design team was able to integrate various design features to make the site I wanted work. I really enjoyed working with Mike and his team.

Massud Mojra

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Ready To Find the Right Permit Path for Your Project?

Contact us at Modern Engineering today to learn which permit path fits your site and how we can get your project to construction.

(214) 833-6748

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