Case Study: Burlingame's Wastewater Treatment Plant achieves millions in resident savings and award‑winning operational excellence with Veolia North America

Long Running P3 Saves Burlingame Residents Millions

Burlingame's Wastewater Treatment Plant faced persistent operational and regulatory challenges that prompted the city to engage Veolia North America in 1972 under a pioneering operate/maintain/manage (O&M) public‑private partnership. The scope covered a 5.5‑MGD activated sludge plant, lift station, landfill gas collection and treatment, stormwater pollution prevention, biosolids land application and later co‑generation development to address compliance, reliability and cost issues.

Veolia North America implemented focused O&M and process‑control programs, assigned a core team of experienced supervisors, supported roughly $25 million in capital improvements and partnered on an onsite methane‑fueled cogeneration system. The work delivered measurable results — about $100,000 in annual power cost savings from cogeneration — plus long‑term contract renewals, improved effluent quality and multiple safety and operating‑excellence awards.

Burlingame's Wastewater Treatment Plant