Methane Optimization Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Chesterfield County owns and operates two wastewater treatment facilities with a combined permitted capacity to treat 39 million gallons of wastewater per day. As with all municipal wastewater treatment facilities, it is a continuous challenge to provide safe, environmentally friendly and cost effective treatment of the solids removed from the treatment process. The wastewater facilities treat solids through a process called anaerobic digestion that utilizes a combination of methane gas generated in the treatment process and purchased natural gas to maintain optimum temperatures in the digestion tanks. The Methane Optimization Program developed a systematic approach to optimize the production and utilization of self generated methane gas while significantly reducing the need to purchase natural gas. The Methane Optimization Program provided safe and cost effective treatment of the solid waste while significantly reducing operational costs, the reliance on purchased natural gas and reduced the facilities air emissions. Most importantly, the program is optimizing the conversion of a waste to energy while preserving our existing natural resources for future generations.