PC Construction, a leading environmental design-build contractor on the East Coast, and Stantec, its lead design partner and global consulting and engineering firm, have been selected to design and construct a major biosolids upgrade project for the Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) in Northern Virginia.
The progressive design-build project, totaling approximately $175 million, will upgrade solids handling facilities and incorporate cutting-edge technology to sustainably transform wastewater to a renewable energy source and a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
PC and Stantec will work together to design and construct the thermal hydrolysis process (THP), pre- and post-dewatering facilities, primary and secondary anaerobic digesters, odor control, biogas treatment systems, and steam generation. THP will allow the WPCP to produce Class A biosolids that can be used as fertilizer and the resulting biogas will be captured, treated, and used as a renewable energy source.
The design-build team is a leader in these specialized facilities, combining PC’s construction experience — including the largest THP facility in the world — with Stantec’s history of designing nearly half of the world’s THP facilities. PC and Stantec are currently in the commissioning phase for WSSC Water’s Piscataway Water Resource Recovery Facility Bioenergy Project, which will be one of only five operating THP facilities in the US.
“This is an incredibly important project for Arlington County and the community,” said Matt Cooke, president/CEO at PC Construction. “THP technology is quickly gaining traction in the U.S. as an effective, energy efficient, and sustainable method for managing wastewater biosolids. We are excited to put our expertise in this innovative field to work to help Arlington County achieve its long-term vision.”
“The opportunity to work with Arlington County on this groundbreaking project is significant,” said Nicolle Boulay, vice president at Stantec. “The County’s priorities around sustainability align very well with Stantec’s, and we look forward to helping the County achieve its goals.”
Building on Arlington County’s Solids Master Plan, this project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region and generate negative net energy usage. Completion is projected by the end of 2029.
