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
-
2016
U. S. Water Alliance, U.S. Water Prize
-
2012
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Excellence in Engineering Grand Award
-
2012
International Water Association, Global Honour Award in Planning
Related Projects
Lewiston Water Treatment Plant Retrofit
Hyperion Advanced Water Purification Facility
Process Water Reclamation Facility
Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility
Southwestern Parkway Combined Sewer Overflow Basin
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 News
- AWWA ACE 2025
- BC Compliance News: May 2025 environmental regulations
- Midwest Biosolids Conference
- Brown and Caldwell partners with the Water Utility Climate Alliance to help design climate-ready infrastructure across the water sector
- CWEA 2025 Annual Conference and Expo
- Joint Conference: Residuals & Biosolids and Innovations in Treatment Technology
- Brown and Caldwell Advances Leadership in Sustainable Water and Wastewater Solutions for Data Centers
- AZ Water Conference
- Women in Mining National Conference
- WRF funding propels study on microorganisms in wastewater systems