Articles
Reducing Energy Usage In Water And Wastewater Facilities
May 14, 2009
•Article: Reducing Energy Usage In Water And Wastewater Facilities
By Grant Van Hemert, PE
In 2003, a research study by Frost and Sullivan examined criteria used by water and wastewater facilities in making purchasing decisions. Out of 12 criteria listed, the overall operational cost, including energy usage, ranked as the seventh priority. Therefore, energy usage has received only moderate attention in equipment purchasing decisions.
However, recent events are changing how energy usage is perceived. One example is the post-Katrina volatility in the energy market. Some events are more indirect, such as the testimony of Jeannette Brown, vice president of the Water Environment Federation, to a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Feb. 4, 2009, or the entry of the Energy Star program into the water and wastewater industry. These events demonstrate that energy is becoming a major concern.
Approximately one-third of a municipality's energy bill represents water and wastewater treatment costs. Additionally, more than $4B is spent each year in the United States on energy for water and wastewater. A 10% reduction in energy usage would result in 5 billion kilowatthours (kwh) saved annually and approximately $400B in savings to cash-strapped municipalities. A reduction of 5 billion kwh would lead to a reduction in water usage by thirsty power plants, reducing stress on overburdened water resources. An understanding of where energy is spent enables facilities to evaluate how to reduce power consumption.
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