DC Water’s award-winning Biosolids Program at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant dramatically transforms the way wastewater solids are processed and managed. The program centers on the implementation of North America’s first and the world’s largest installation of the Cambi™ thermal hydrolysis process (THP), anaerobic digestion, final belt filter press dewatering and a combined heat and power system. Considered one of the greenest wastewater projects ever conceived, the $470 million biosolids facility requires fewer digesters, cuts greenhouse gases, produces renewable energy, and creates Class A biosolids—all combining to save utility ratepayers millions of dollars annually. Brown and Caldwell was DC Water’s program manager, developer, and lead designer for bringing this complex system to fruition, much of which was completed using the design-build delivery method.

Delivering a world-class vision

Delivering a world-class vision
Awards
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2016
U. S. Water Alliance, U.S. Water Prize
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2012
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Excellence in Engineering Grand Award
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2012
International Water Association, Global Honour Award in Planning
Related Projects
Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility
Southwestern Parkway Combined Sewer Overflow Basin
Process Water Reclamation Facility
RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center Headworks
Oakley Station Separation Sewer Project
North and South Complex Water Quality Improvements
Johns Creek Environmental Campus
Indian Head Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
Former Manufacturing Facility Site Remediation
Former Nuodex Site Remediation and Restoration
Groundwater Remedial Action Construction
Turnkey Excavation and Dewatering Design-Build
Cogeneration System Upgrade
Biological Nutrient Removal Pilot Facility
Related Papers and Reports
- The State of the Practice of Class-A Anaerobic Digestion: Update for 2005
- The Thermal Hydrolysis Link to Anaerobic Digestion: The Heart of the DC Water Biosolids Program
- Three Procurement Methods and a Major Sole Source Used to Implement DC WASA’s $300+ Million Biosolids Program
- Implementation of a Computerized Maintenance Management System for the City of Atlanta
- Thermal Hydrolysis Considerations for Pre-Digestion Solids Processing
- Criteria for Prescriptive Design Build Focused on DC Water’s Biosolids Program Objectives and Constraints
- Considerations in Using Thermal Hydrolysis for Pre-Digestion Processing in North America
- Transition Development for DC Water’s Biosolids Management Program
- Anaerobic Digestion at an ENR Plant: Implications for Energy, Carbon and GHG
- Cost Control and Risk Reduction – Precepts for Developing DCWASA’s Biosolids Program in the Age of Sustainability
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