The Midwest Cogeneration Association (MCA) in colloboration with the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) and the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies (IAWA) invites you to tour the Downers Grove Sanitary Disrict and participate in a networking dinner meeting.

Register Now! 

The Downers Grove Sanitary District wastewater treatment center provides wastewater treatment for Downers Grove, the western portion of Westmont, and portions of several other nearby communities.  The service population is about 65,000.  The facility provides tertiary treatment, using the activated sludge process for the bulk of pollution reduction through the plant.  The sludge that is generated is stabilized in anaerobic digesters, a ready source of biogas that is rich in methane.

Pumping and the activated sludge treatment process account for a majority of the energy used at the facility, operated with electric-driven equipment.  These processes are typical of the municipal wastewater industry in Illinois.  Traditionally, energy accounts for roughly 10% of the operating budget, having a significant impact on wastewater utility rates.  Electricity use also accounts for the majority of the carbon footprint of the facility. 

This facility has recently focused on efforts to control energy costs, with a trajectory aiming towards a net-zero energy facility.  Modernizing with high efficiency equipment has provided significant benefits.  However, the biggest gains are available by using the energy available in the wastewater itself.  Sewage contains a significant amount of stored energy that can be extracted with the right technology.

The tour of the facility will show how this is done at the plant.  Sewage sludge is co-digested with restaurant grease trap waste, creating a large volume of biogas.  The biogas is cleaned and made suitable for use as an engine fuel.  An engine-driven generator is operated to produce electricity, with excess hot water used as digester process heat.  The CHP operation accounts for roughly half of the existing baseload of electricity used at the plant.

Located at Downers Grove Sanitary District:
Tour:  4:00-5:30
Located at Emmett's Ale House:
Cocktails:  5:30-6:15
Dinner:  6:15
Program: 7:00

Central States Water Environment Assocation represents over 1,300 water professionals in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  We are a regional member association of the Water Environment Federation.  We offer multiple opportunities for the exchange of water quality knowledge and experiences among its members and the public and to foster a greater awareness of water quality achievements and challenges

The Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies (IAWA) is the voice of wastewater agencies in Illinois.  Our membership includes over 50 wastewater agencies throughout Illinois, representing over 75% of Illinois residents who receive centralized wastewater collection and treatment.  We meet seven times a year, and focus on topics and issues affecting municipal wastewater utilities in Illinois.  We conduct education and advocacy work dedicated to providing cost-effective treatment of wastewater so that sound public health and environmental goals may be achieved.

The Midwest Cogeneration Association (MCA) promotes a greater public understanding of cogeneration, independent power production, and distributed generation. In addition, MCA works to improve general business conditions of the industry. The non-profit organization provides pertinent information for its members to conduct research, publish reports, and hold various seminars and workshops with the goal to advance the concept of cogeneration throughout the Midwest. MCA was incorporated in 1984 and covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. The group has held annual regional conferences since 1985. MCA is associated with the Electric Power Supply Association.