The City of Pasco, Burnham RNG, and project partners Biogas Engineering, Cascade Natural Gas, Gross-Wen Technologies, Sustainable Energy Ventures, Swinerton Energy, and Xylem are celebrating the groundbreaking expansion of the Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF) and Pasco Resource Recovery Center (PRRC) —with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on March 22, 2025.
This innovative facility transforms process water from seven local food processing plants into multiple beneficial resources. Through a unique combination of processes, the PRRC generates renewable natural gas (RNG), nutrient-rich soil amendments, algae for use in bioproducts, and returns clean water to be used for agricultural irrigation, all while reducing environmental impact.
The expansion of system users in the Pasco area, including the addition of Darigold, are driving increased demand for process water treatment. The upgraded PWRF will increase treatment capacity and enhance environmental benefits at a reduced cost, thanks to Pasco’s strategic 30-year public-private partnership with Burnham RNG who built, 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.”