Course # 05132001 0.8 CEUs/8.0 PDH
Energy management leading practices for water utilities-Linda Reekie (Water Research Foundation)
The presentation will provide an overview of the WaterRF energy research portfolio. It will summarize
energy management leading practices for water utilities to reduce energy consumption and costs. Water
utility examples will be presented to illustrate a range of options and tools that are available to reduce
energy consumption and energy costs.
Water Resource Trends, Projections and Risk Management-Dr. Robert Goldstein (EPRI)
The presentation will cover an analysis of recent trends and future projections of freshwater withdrawals
for the electric power, municipal, and agricultural sectors, resolved at county level across the contiguous
United States, and relate these withdrawals to freshwater availability. The presentation will also describe
a new decision support system, Water Prism, to strategically risk manage community, watershed and
regional freshwater use. Two case study applications will be discussed. Opportunities for beneficial
electrification within the municipal water sector will also be addressed.
AWWA and the Energy/Water Nexus, “Green” Infrastructure, and Sustainability-Alan Roberson (AWWA)
The presentation will cover AWWA’s efforts on the Energy/Water Nexus – our efforts on hydraulic
fracturing (fracking) and partnerships with other associations such as the Consortium for Energy Efficiency
(CEE), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), and others. The presentation will also summarize AWWA’s
discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on “Green” infrastructure for drinking water
(as opposed to wastewater and storm water). The presentation will also summarizes AWWA’s
sustainability initiatives, primarily focusing on the initial study of a sustainability rating tool and ongoing
efforts with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI).
WERF Programs to Drive Wastewater System Energy Self Sufficiency A National Perspective-Scott Kelly
(WERF)
In 2007, Water Environment Research Foundation commenced research into a 5-year program called the
Operations Optimization Challenge (OWSO). The goal of that program was to improve efficiency or reduce
cost by 20% through research outcomes that focused largely on tools and energy efficiency case studies
and compendiums. One of the research outcomes of the OWSO challenge was the realization that
wastewater treatment plants can approach or even achieve energy self sufficiency (i.e., net energy
neutrality) through energy efficiency and on-site power production. As such, the overarching goal of the
Energy Production and Efficiency program is to develop information that will foster energy self sufficiency
for all wastewater treatment plants. This will be accomplished through two primary pathways: reducing
plant energy demand through alternatives to conventional secondary treatment and capturing the latent
energy of wastewater to generate energy for on-site use and to export off-site. The presentation will
discuss the various technologies and process improvements available to lead utilities toward energy
reductions.
1
What the flux: Membranes and Energy-Christine Owen (AMTA)
The connection between water and energy use is self-evident when advanced technologies such as
membranes are used to treat drinking water. Because membrane separation technology is energy
intensive, the energy question receives a great deal of attention from water utility staff who try to manage
cost, public perception and expectations. Advances in membrane manufacturing and its materials as well
as engineering improvements have decreased the energy requirements for membrane treatment. This
talk will examine membrane technology improvements that optimize energy use and frame membrane
treatment energy use in the context of other uses. The American Membrane Technology Association is
dedicated to promoting the membrane treatment of drinking water accessible and affordable.
Energy Efficiency: A New Source of Funding for Water Utilities- Jonathan Gledhill (Policy Navigation)
Water and wastewater utilities are seeing increasing demands for capital improvements while traditional
sources of external incentives have diminished. Federal support of programs to help water and
wastewater utilities has steadily declined since 2000; however, support for other types of capital
investments (i.e., energy efficiency) has increased dramatically. As a result, this presentation covers how
water and wastewater utilities can tap into these new financial incentives and improve their operations.
Attendees will gain an understanding of how financial incentives are changing and what they can do to
position their systems to take advantage of the new opportunities.
The Watergy Approach: Smart Strategies for Improving Energy Efficiency for Water & Wastewater
Utilities and Municipalities- Bruce Lung (Alliance to Save Energy)
Water and energy costs are inextricably linked and can be significant. In the U.S., the energy required to
supply, treat, transport, and heat water accounts for an estimated 13% of the country’s total electricity
consumption, accounting for approximately 290 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year. In some
municipalities, drinking water and wastewater treatment can account for up to 35 percent of their annual
energy use. Some studies have estimated that the total U.S. savings potential in the water & wastewater
utility sector can be as much as 31 billion kWh annually.
The water & wastewater utility industry is often overlooked as a specific target of energy efficiency
programs. The water & wastewater utility industry faces a number of challenges when implementing
energy efficiency measures due, in part, to its capital intensive nature and the interaction of public
interests on water treatment. Because of these capital limitations many water & wastewater utilities have
not invested in their infrastructure and water delivery assets in as many as thirty years, with the result
that many water & wastewater utilities are currently served by aging and sometimes inefficient
equipment. As water becomes scarcer due to drought conditions in some parts of the United States and as
electric power rates become more variable, improving efficiency in water and energy use will become
indispensible for utility managers and end use customers across a variety of economic sectors.
2
Turkey Point Units 6 & 7 – Making Reclaimed Water Work for Nuclear Power-Steven Scroggs (FP&L)
FPL is in the process of obtaining licenses and approvals for two Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear generating
units at its Turkey Point site in southern Miami-Dade County Florida. From the outset, FPL sought to
design the facility in a way that complements the needs and constraints of the South Florida environment.
A key design feature is the reliance on treated wastewater from Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer
Department. Use of reclaimed water for cooling of power generation is not novel, however the scale of
this project presents unique technical, economic and regulatory challenges and opportunities. The
presentation will provide a project orientation and focus on some of the specific features of the water
supply solution.
Florida’s Water Supply Planning Process and the Water: Energy Nexus-Ann Shortelle (Florida Department
of Environmental Protection)
By 2030, Florida’s demand for fresh water is estimated to increase to over 8 bgd, and traditional sources
of fresh groundwater will not be able to meet all of the additional demand. Regional water supply plans
are developed by Florida’s water management districts to identify new water supply projects that can, if
constructed, provide alternative water sources that are more than adequate to meet the currently
projected needs. Continued efforts on all plan components, including traditional and alternative source
development and water conservation, are anticipated to ensure that supplies are available to meet 2030
demands. This presentation examines the incorporation of energy needs into this planning process.
The Nexus between Water and Energy: Two Case Studies from Palm Beach County, Florida-Bevin
Beaudet (Palm Beach County)
The presentation will discuss the interrelationship between water and energy and present some statistics
that detail the amount of energy that it takes to produce a unit quantity of drinking water and the amount
of water that is needed to produce a unit quantity of energy. Two case studies from Palm Beach County
Water Utilities are then presented. The first is a project that will capture biogas from the anaerobic
digesters of a 35 MGD wastewater treatment plant and use it to generate electricity to help power the
plant. The second case study is a reclaimed water system and 19-mile pipeline from a regional 70 MGD
wastewater treatment plant that conveys an average of 22 MGD of reclaimed water used as cooling water
for a 3800 MW combined cycle natural gas power plant. Both projects provide more sustainable solutions
that reduce resource needs for both energy and water production.
Energy Water Nexus- From Greenhouse Gases to Utility Energy Optimization Programs-David Bracciano
& Maribel Medina (Tampa Bay Water)
Tampa Bay Water supplies water to its members through a variety of water sources including
groundwater, surface water, stored surface water and desalinated water. The agency develops tools and
works with its members to optimize demand side management programs, including estimation of
historical and ongoing conservation programs. It developed a methodology to calculate the GHG emissions
associated with energy use in water production to determine greenhouse gas emission offsets associated
with conserved water. On the supply side, the agency has developed an Energy Program roadmap and is
implementing the program in stages to lessen costs associated with energy use within the agency’s
operational plan.
3
4