Enhancing Efficiency: The Role of Smart Water Pumps for Project Sustainability in Drinking Water Systems
In the quest for sustainable water management, the energy consumption of drinking water systems has become a pressing concern. With approximately 3-4% of the United States’ energy dedicated to these systems, innovative solutions are essential to reduce both costs and environmental impact. One promising avenue is the deployment of smart water pumps for projects aimed at enhancing efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
By optimizing the performance of water pumps, municipalities can significantly lower operational expenses while contributing to their Net Zero ambitions. This article explores the importance of energy efficiency in water systems, highlighting how strategic investments in smart water pump technologies can lead to substantial savings and improved service delivery. As communities face growing challenges related to water quality and availability, the integration of advanced pump solutions stands out as a vital step toward sustainable and responsible water management.
How much energy do drinking water systems use?
- Providing safe drinking water requires a lot of energy. Three to four percent of the energy used in the United States is used for drinking water and wastewater systems nationwide.
- This equates to the production of nearly 45 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) and 56 billion kWh yearly. The biggest energy users at the local level are usually the wastewater and drinking water systems, which account for 25–40% of a municipality’s overall energy costs.Electricity accounts for over 80% of the costs associated with municipal water distribution and processing.
- Energy is required for the extraction, transportation, treatment, storage, and distribution of raw water in drinking water systems. Water source, facility age, treatment type, storage capacity, terrain, and system size which includes volume generated and service areacan all affect energy use. A typical surface water drinking water system uses 1,500 kWh/million gallons (MG), as shown in Figure 1, with the breakdown of energy use as follows: 1,150 kWh/MG for distribution and storage; 250 kWh/MG for treatment; and 100 kWh/MG for transportation.
- Because they must pump raw water from aquifers, public water systems that use ground water often use more energy on average than surface water systems—roughly 1,800 kWh/MG.For both surface and subsurface water systems, pumping generally makes up 90–99% of the energy used in a water system.
What are the benefits of reducing energy use at water systems?
Energy efficiency saves money
A sizable amount of the operational budgets of drinking water systems go toward energy costs, which can be both costly and necessary. For a number of reasons, such as population growth-related system expansions, new or updated regulations that might require more treatment or more energy-intensive treatment, drought, and the effects of climate change that might require the use of new water sources with lower quality or that are farther away from the end user, it is likely that the water sector will use more and more energy at higher prices. Enhancing energy efficiency, or using less energy to deliver the same level of service and water quality, can result in energy savings.
Energy efficiency extends the life of existing infrastructure
The sustainability of drinking water systems has been found to be enhanced by including energy-efficient measures into long-term planning and daily administration. Water systems may better understand the overall condition of their infrastructure and take proactive measures to guarantee that equipment is running efficiently by keeping an eye on energy-efficient equipment. Consequently, this lessens the load on the equipment and the need for maintenance and operation.
Energy efficiency reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Lowering energy use directly affects lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Initiatives to lower carbon footprints and GHG emissions during the next ten to thirty years have been formed in a number of states and municipalities, including California, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, and Wisconsin. In order to achieve these objectives, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure will be crucial.
Energy efficiency enhances customer relations
Water-related concerns and customer expectations are rising. A recent research found that 95% of Americans consider water to be “extremely important,” ranking it higher than any other service they receive.
Energy providers, as well as federal, state, and municipal organizations, are promoting energy efficiency and conservation in consumer purchases.
A water system can position itself as an environmental steward in the community by successfully informing consumers and other stakeholders about its energy management initiatives and accomplishments. Additionally, it develops goodwill between consumers and elected leaders and advances knowledge about the delivery of water production.
Energy project saves money and carbon( as a case study)
A project to understand the energy consumption of water pumps has led to investments by Northumbrian Water to significantly reduce ongoing cost and carbon savings.
Opportunities that were identified to refurbish, replace or optimise inefficient pumps, across the company’s operating areas in the North East of England, Essex and Suffolk, represent potential operating cost savings of around £1.2m a year, and carbon emission reductions of more than 1,500 tonnes per annum.
The investments being delivered as a result not only contribute towards the company maintaining low bills for customers, but also its ambitions to achieve Net Zero.
The project to understand and identify the opportunities to enhance the pumps’ efficiency was carried out in partnership with Integrated Water Services Mechanical and Electrical (IWS M&E).
A programme of pump testing was carried out in collaboration with Northumbrian Water’s operational teams to ensure minimal risk of impact on day-to-day operations, and the results were analysed to identify the best long term carbon and cost value and outcome from a range of solutions.
These ranged from changes to the way pumps were operated to full replacements.
Further opportunities identified include refurbishments, replacements and a combination of interventions for more than 40 additional pumps, further contributing to significant cost and carbon reductions.
Zoe Frogbrook, Head of Environment and Sustainability at Northumbrian Water Group, said: “The results of this programme of works is a win for both customers and the environment.
“By taking a proactive and methodical approach to understanding the energy consumption of water pumps across our network and assets, we’ve been able to identify and implement a range of solutions to deliver ongoing cost and carbon savings.
“It shows that protecting the environment and driving towards Net Zero by 2050 can go hand in hand with reducing our operating costs, which in turn supports our drive to keep customers’ bills as low as possible”
Conclusion
Investing in a smart water pump for project initiatives not only enhances the efficiency of drinking water systems but also significantly reduces operational costs and carbon emissions. As municipalities strive to meet growing demands for safe drinking water while addressing climate change, the adoption of advanced pump technologies will be crucial. Embracing these innovations is a vital step toward sustainable water management and a greener future for our communities.
To explore the latest innovations in water and energy technologies, and discover a wide range of products and solutions from around the world, you can visit the virtual exhibition AQUA ENERGY EXPO which featuring leading companies in water treatment, desalination, and sustainable energy through the following link:
References
Energy project saves money and carbon
https://www.nwg.co.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/energy-project-saves-money-and-carbon/
Strategies for saving energy at public water systems
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-04/documents/epa816f13004.pdf
