https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Energy upgrades flow through east valley water district

Energy upgrades flow through east valley water district

John Mura, CEO and general manager, East Valley Water District, explains how water utilities can conserve energy and become more sustainable.
  • Written by contributor
  • 12th November 2014

By John Mura

Water utilities many times aren’t considered candidates in energy efficiency conversations, but according to a 2005 report by the California Energy Commission, these essential operations are significant consumers of energy resources. For example, 19 percent of California’s energy requirements are tied to water operations such as raw water pumping, water treatment, and finished water pumping, among other activities. Also, water operations account for more than 30 percent of California’s natural gas consumption according to the report.

With energy costs rising, East Valley Water District (EVWD), which serves 97,000 customers in southern California’s San Bernardino County in and around Highland, California, knew there was opportunity to improve its operations and reduce utility costs. But the organization lacked the internal expertise to identify the right mix of retrofit opportunities and necessary upgrades to realize the savings. EVWD looked to energy services provider Honeywell to help audit its operations and uncover opportunities for improvements that includes replacing existing, inefficient, older pumping systems, optimizing the pumping system, changing electrical rate schedules, and pumping during the off-peak utility rates.

The audit results formed the basis of a first-of-its-kind energy upgrade project among municipal water authorities nationwide that combines energy conservation measures and an automated demand response (ADR) program. To finance the project, EVWD leveraged a $500,000 rebate from its local electric utility and a 10-year, $4 million performance contract with Honeywell. This enabled the water district to fund the infrastructure improvements with the expected energy savings guaranteed by Honeywell without impacting current budgets or drawing additional rate payer dollars.

In addition to replacing older, inefficient pumps and motors with higher efficiency models, the program will help improve the water authority’s pumping efficiency so water reservoirs are filled during off-peak utility hours when electric rates are lower. EVWD’s SCADA control systems will also be replaced with a new SCADA system that automatically shuts down pumping stations during periods when energy rates are highest — between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on summer weekdays – to help further reduce operating costs. During these times, the water utility will rely on stored water and will only operate a few select pumping stations to provide water service.

Combining these enhancements with an ADR program sets this program apart from other water municipalities in the country. EVWD will participate in the local electric utility’s ADR program to benefit from electric utility incentives. When the electric utility is facing a supply-demand imbalance or an overburdened electrical grid, it will initiate a demand response event. During the event, the water district will receive a signal from automated demand response software used by the local utility. The signal will then communicate with the same controls that manage pumping schedules to automatically shed electrical load.

As this happens, EVWD will tap into water stored in elevated tanks so it can continue to meet its customers’ needs. However, if reserves are low or EVWD needs to continue operating at full capacity due to an emergency, facility personnel can opt out of the event.

Once the project work is complete, the infrastructure improvements will help boost EVWD’s future operating budget and sustainability efforts. The water district expects to reduce annual energy and operating costs by $523,000, and the work will also help cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 1.3 million pounds each year – equivalent to removing about 248,282 vehicles from the road according to the EPA’s GHG equivalency calculator. Achieving both budget savings and emissions reductions is a win-win for EVWD and the community.

John Mura is the CEO and general manager of the East Valley Water District.

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

 

Tags: Administration Public Works & Utilities Commentaries Commentary

Related


  • The uncertain future of community composting in New York City
    After roughly a decade of service in New York City, the last two community composting sites will not have their leases renewed. These sites are situated on land belonging to the city’s Parks Department: the Lower East Side Ecology Center is at Corlears Hook Park in Lower Manhattan, and Big Reuse is located under the […]
  • Biden’s relief plan includes $350 billion for local and state government
    President-Elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion relief plan Thursday to combat the COVID-19 crisis and the economic downturn it has caused. In addition to $400 million to combat the pandemic specifically, the proposal includes $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments that would help them to bridge budget shortfalls, help public works maintain […]
  • How Philadelphia is aiming for zero waste
    The city of Philadelphia has long collected data on city properties’ waste generation and leveraged it to improve waste management, but now it’s honing in on the commercial sector too, realizing this will be crucial to hitting Philly’s zero waste targets. Today it runs a voluntary program where both municipal and commercial operations do detailed […]
  • How the City of Fullerton navigated adding candidates to ballots remotely
    This time last year, we were all looking forward to 2020: the start of a new decade and big elections (federally and locally) were just a few of the things we were excited about as we closed out the year. Little did we know, the beginning of the end of “normal” would happen two month […]

Related Content

  • Minneapolis cuts millions from police budget
  • St. Lucie county adds foam polystyrene recycling program
  • Colorado county’s value-based health care strategy produces savings
  • BhamStrong delivers long-term solutions in uncertain times

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

The latest episode The Young Leaders Podcast focuses on Cyril Jefferson. Cyril is the youngest African American to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Hillsboro, Oregon is pioneering a new #renewableenergy generation technology through a partnership with… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

The impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on #telework was swift and profound. Now, the big question is whether – and to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Get ready for the can't-miss webinar on how to kickstart your efficiency improvement plan with Luke Anderson of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Among all states headed into the 2020 general election, which ones have voting populations that are the most demogr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in our readership survey to help us shape future content so that we c… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

See how cities different approaches to distribute masks in their communities >> spr.ly/6010GAPLa

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

While #facialrecognition is a powerful tool that can improve law enforcement efficiency, that doesn’t necessarily t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X