A major milestone is being celebrated in Pasco as the City, in collaboration with Burnham RNG and key project partners—including Biogas Engineering, Cascade Natural Gas, Gross-Wen Technologies, Sustainable Energy Ventures, Swinerton Energy, and Xylem—commemorates the groundbreaking expansion of the Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF) and the Pasco Resource Recovery Center (PRRC).
This forward-thinking facility transforms process water from seven regional food processors into valuable resources. Using a unique blend of advanced systems, the PRRC generates renewable natural gas (RNG), nutrient-rich soil products, and algae for bioproducts, while returning clean water for agricultural use—dramatically reducing the environmental footprint of industrial wastewater.
The system expansion—prompted by rising demand, including new participation from Darigold—will boost treatment capacity and increase environmental benefits, all while lowering costs. This is possible through a 30-year public-private partnership with Burnham RNG, which developed, owns, and operates the PRRC.
“This facility is truly cutting-edge,” said Maria Serra, Pasco public works director. “By repurposing water from food processing plants, we’re improving our environmental impact, meeting state and federal environmental standards, and harnessing valuable resources like renewable natural gas, all while sharing costs with industry partners.”
Key features:
- Sustainable Water Reuse: Now capable of recycling over one billion gallons of water annually, the upgraded system treats water from local food producers to a higher quality standard, supporting safer and more efficient agricultural irrigation.
- Advanced Treatment Technologies: Two new 34-million-gallon anaerobic digesters, supplied by Xylem, will use naturally occurring microorganisms to break down organic materials in the wastewater.
- Clean Energy Production: Biogas created during anaerobic digestion will be refined into pipeline-quality RNG using technology developed by Biogas Engineering. Cascade Natural Gas will handle the local distribution of the renewable fuel.
- Algae-Driven Purification: Gross-Wen Technologies’ greenhouse filtration system uses algae to remove nitrogen and capture carbon dioxide, improving both water and air quality.
- Increased Storage Capacity: New holding ponds will store treated water for agricultural use, supporting year-round resource efficiency.
- On-Time, On-Budget Delivery: Swinerton Energy managed the project as EPC contractor, ensuring smooth execution and cost control.
“This project does much more than treat wastewater; it unlocks long-term value for the City of Pasco and its industries,” said Chris Tynan, Burnham RNG CEO. “By integrating advanced treatment, nutrient recovery, and energy production, we and our partners have built a system that makes wastewater a financial and environmental asset.”
The upgraded Process Water Reuse Facility underscores Pasco’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaborative infrastructure—keeping the city at the forefront of industrial ecology and agricultural resource management.
