Our Mission Is Simple: We Engineer Water
NL Engineering Water (NLEW), doing business as NorrisLeal, is a multi-disciplined consulting, engineering, construction management, and operations firm headquartered in Harlingen, Texas, with more than 30 years serving municipalities and public utilities across South Texas and beyond. Founded in 1988 as NRS Consulting Engineers by Joseph W. (Bill) Norris, P.E., and Jesus Leal, P.E., NLEW pioneered brackish groundwater desalination in Texas, developing over 24,000 acre-feet of new water supply in the Rio Grande Valley. NLEW has planned, designed, and managed more than $300 million in water and wastewater supply projects, including large-scale reverse osmosis and microfiltration plants, seawater desalination, and industrial wastewater reuse. NLEW also provides design and project management for warehouses, sports parks, and commercial buildings throughout Texas.
Texas Firm Registration No. F-14803 · Texas Electrical Contractor License No. 33120 · CAGE No. 8VFU3 · DUNS No. 078706266
Jesus LealPrincipal / Co-Founder
David PettryPrincipal
Developing alternative water supply solutions through advanced membrane treatment. The practice pioneered brackish desalination systems in Texas, delivering potable water from previously unusable groundwater resources.
Engineering high-pressure membrane systems to remove dissolved solids and contaminants for municipal water supplies.
Designing pretreatment membrane systems to remove suspended solids and protect downstream purification processes.
Implementing advanced zero-discharge treatment technologies that convert wastewater concentrate into usable commercial products and potable water.
Providing comprehensive study, design, and implementation of public utility systems. Services span municipal water treatment plants, municipal wastewater facilities, and custom water reuse solutions.
Planning and engineering municipal water sourcing, treatment, and distribution networks.
Designing membrane-based systems to treat and repurpose industrial effluent for manufacturing and commercial operations.
Engineering groundwater extraction wells and managing aquifer development projects to secure reliable raw water sources.
Conducting technical and economic evaluations to guide water resource planning and technology selection.
Supervising project execution from bidding through startup and commissioning. Focus areas include managing complex multi-contract procurements and coordinating specialized equipment integration.
Providing technical field representation and quality assurance for municipal water treatment facility construction.
Directing onsite activities, scheduling, and contractor coordination for treatment plant expansions and upgrades.
Managing unified design-build contracts to accelerate project schedules and streamline stakeholder collaboration.
Providing hands-on facility operations and professional oversight for water treatment plants. The practice offers specialized technical support to ensure compliance, optimize system performance, and extend equipment lifespans.
Managing day-to-day operations and maintenance of municipal and industrial water treatment systems.
Providing licensed, professional operator-of-record services to meet regulatory compliance standards for desalination facilities.
Delivering structural, site development, and infrastructure engineering for public and private sector projects.
Providing design, structural calculations, and building systems engineering for commercial developments.
Directing design and construction coordination for large-scale storage and logistics facilities.
Planning and engineering athletic parks, sports fields, and public recreational spaces.
Developing grading, drainage, and utility connection designs for regional public works.
Water Supply · Wastewater · Water Resources · Utilities · Industrial · Government
Katy, Texas · Water Supply · 2018 · Client: Cinco Ranch MUD No. 1
Planning, design, and construction management of a 2.0 MGD brackish groundwater desalination facility (2018), expanded to 3.8 MGD Microfiltration in 2019. NLEW hired to operate the facility in January 2022. Total project cost over $10M.
Brownsville, Texas · Water Supply · 2004 · Client: Southmost Regional Water Authority / Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Engineer of record since 2001 for the largest producing brackish groundwater treatment plant in Texas. Initial construction in 2004 at 7.5 MGD, expanded in 2014 to 11 MGD. Encompasses 20 wells, 15 miles of raw water collection lines, 9 miles of treated transmission lines, reverse osmosis membrane treatment, microfiltration, and 7.5 million-gallon storage tank.
El Paso, Texas · Water Supply · 2017 · Client: Enviro Water Minerals Company
Design, construction, and management of the world's first commercial Full Recovery Desalination plant for Enviro Water Minerals Company. Zero discharge, ~99% water recovery. Construction began February 2016, completed April 2017. Winner of the Texas Water Development Board's 2017 Innovative Water Supply Award.
Harlingen, Texas · Industrial · 1989 · Client: Fruit of the Loom / City of Harlingen
Joint project with Harlingen Waterworks to expand an existing WWTP and add a reverse osmosis facility to treat wastewater effluent for reuse by Fruit of the Loom manufacturing operations.