New Class A Biosolids and Energy Facility at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant

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.