How the city of Pasco is turning industrial wastewater into a community resource

In Pasco, Washington, water isn’t just a resource. It’s the foundation of resilience and shared regional prosperity. When six local food processors faced the challenge of managing high-strength wastewater sustainably, city leaders and project partners saw an opportunity.

Together, they set out not just to modernize infrastructure but to create a model for how communities and industries can thrive through smarter water management.

Tom Wilson, VP/GM of Heavy Industry at Xylem, shares how this collaborative, forward-thinking effort transformed an aging approach to wastewater management into a scalable model for water reuse that supports economic growth, environmental stewardship, and operational resilience for years to come.

A shared challenge, and a bigger opportunity

Located in the heart of Washington’s agricultural corridor, Pasco plays a vital role in supporting regional food production. For years, processors managed wastewater using basic screening and storage in open lagoons, followed by seasonal land application. 

It was a system that worked under predictable conditions but couldn’t keep pace with rising volumes and shifting regulations.

Nutrient levels, especially nitrogen, were high. In colder months, when irrigation wasn’t possible, wastewater accumulated, causing odor issues and putting groundwater at risk.

Upgrading individual treatment systems wasn't a practical or affordable option, so the city of Pasco began to reframe the issue. This wasn’t just a wastewater challenge. It was a chance to recover resources, reduce risk, and generate new value for the region.

Recognizing water’s vital role in supporting local industry, city leaders and partners began working toward a new vision, one that prioritized shared benefit and a more reliable, efficient future.

Designing a circular solution

In 2021, Burnham RNG and Sustainable Energy Ventures proposed a new approach: develop a centralized facility that could recover resources from wastewater, producing renewable natural gas (RNG) while supporting long-term growth across Pasco’s industrial corridor.

Instead of six separate upgrades, processors could route their wastewater to one shared facility. There, anaerobic digestion would convert organic waste into renewable natural gas.

At the heart of the facility are two ADI-BVF reactors – each with a capacity of 35 million gallons – making them among the largest anaerobic digesters of their kind. This scale allows the system to handle seasonal fluctuations while maintaining stable performance.

Downstream, algae-based polishing removes nitrogen and phosphorus from the treated effluent. This step protects groundwater, improves regulatory resilience, and positions the facility as a long-term platform for circular water and energy management.

Construction began in spring 2023. By December 2024, the facility accepted its first waste load. Now fully operational, the system is already proving its value. The digesters don’t just treat wastewater – they’re the engine of a system designed for resilience. 

Today, all six processors now have reliable, year-round service and can stay focused on their core operations rather than wastewater management.

Establishing partnerships for nutrient recovery

Treatment doesn’t stop at digestion. As organic waste breaks down in the anaerobic digesters, it produces biogas, a mix primarily made up of methane and carbon dioxide.

The gas is upgraded to renewable natural gas, which Burnham sells into the grid.

While the anaerobic system effectively converts the organics (soluble and non-soluble) in the waste streams into biogas, nitrogen and phosphorus remain at levels too high for land irrigation. To meet nutrient reduction goals and do it sustainably, the project team added a second layer of treatment focused on polishing the effluent.

Gross Wen Technologies (GWT), part of the 2023 Xylem Partnerships Accelerator cohort run by Xylem Innovation Labs, brought an algae-based polishing system that fit seamlessly into the facility’s design.

Using a revolving algal biofilm, the technology removes excess nitrogen and phosphorus as the algae grow and absorb the nutrients.

Once harvested, the algae take the nitrogen and phosphorus with them – supporting compliance and enabling a fully circular system that transforms wastewater into a source of energy.

Combined with expanded onsite storage, the system gives Burnham flexibility to irrigate when conditions are right and hold when they’re not – delivering environmental performance, operational resilience, and long-term value.

“This facility represents more than a treatment upgrade,” said Chris Tynan, CEO of Burnham RNG. “It’s a new model for how communities can turn wastewater into renewable energy and regional resilience. With the scale of the ADI-BVF reactors and innovative algal polishing system, we’re setting a new standard for circular infrastructure in the Northwest.”

The impact: Reliable service, renewable energy, regional resilience

Pasco’s system is practical, and it solves a shared problem through shared infrastructure. It reduces risk, produces clean energy, and improves environmental outcomes.

It’s also scalable. Other industrial corridors face similar pressures: high-strength wastewater, aging infrastructure, and tightening regulations. This model shows how centralized systems can unlock new value by turning waste into opportunity.

As commissioning continues into 2025, Pasco’s focus is on optimization: tuning system performance, supporting operators, and monitoring outcomes through site visits and data analysis.

But the momentum extends beyond the region.

Burnham and others are already exploring how to replicate this model in new regions. And through continued R&D with GWT, the city is building out new approaches to nutrient recovery, water reuse, and circular industrial solutions.

This project reflects a shift in mindset: from managing wastewater to maximizing its potential. In Pasco, innovation, collaboration, and long-term investment have created a resilient system – one that strengthens local industry, protects water resources, and lays the groundwork for a more sustainable future.

Learn how Xylem is helping communities like Pasco lead the way in water, energy and nutrient recovery.