Taking Charge of Energy Use

Proactive utility owners are making energy use more efficient at their water and wastewater treatment plants. Faced with rising commodity costs, increasing service needs and aging infrastructures, plant operators are better managing their energy consumption and saving thousands of dollars.

"Energy costs can represent as much as 30 percent of a treatment plant's operating budget," said Water Design Center Manger Scott Zotti, PE. "Even a small reduction in energy consumption can result in significant savings for a facility."

Garver's Energy Optimization Group brings together process, mechanical and electrical engineers and licensed plant operators to help clients minimize energy consumption by optimizing required energy usage. Our teams conduct energy audits and workshops, provide clients with analysis and goal setting, design system improvements with higher efficiency equipment and offer funding assistance.

"There is a direct correlation between controlling energy usage and reducing operating costs and optimizing process control," said Operations Specialist Michael Graves.

Garver is working with numerous clients to reduce utility costs, eliminate wasted energy, optimize plant operation, and increase operator safety and protection. Garver helped Norman, Okla. receive an Energy Program American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant's aeration blower variable frequency drive and replace the sludge heaters with more efficient units. More than 80 percent of the treatment facility's energy costs come from the aeration basin, and the project is installing state-of-the-art drives for blower control.

In Bentonville, Ark., Garver took a comprehensive look at the wastewater treatment plant's entire process from beginning to end and recommended process changes. If fully implemented, the energy optimization audit has identified an estimated annual energy savings of $100,000.

"In the short term, making your energy use more efficient will save money and could ultimately lead to lower customer rates," said Senior Project Manager Kevin Kennoy, PE. "In the long term, it benefits a facility's sustainability by providing better monitoring capabilities and system dependability."

Kennoy is leading an anaerobic digester and aeration improvement project at the Spring Branch wastewater treatment plant in Huntsville, Ala. Garver worked to help secure a $920,000 principal forgiveness loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. This was the highest amount awarded to any Alabama CWSRF applicant in 2011. The total loan was $3 million, with $1.85 million designated for green components.

It's estimated that the nation's water and wastewater treatment systems spend $4 billion a year on energy. By establishing an energy vision and improvement plan, identifying energy objectives and targets, and implementing an energy improvement program, treatment facilities can become more efficient energy stewards, save money and produce better water quality.

Watts the Next Step?

Every day, water and wastewater treatment plants waste valuable energy. There are energy management solutions available for your facility, and Garver's Energy Optimization Group can help minimize energy consumption. Below are some ways to begin developing a strategy.

A good place to start is by calling Garver's Energy Optimization Group. Our staff can answer your questions and save you valuable time. Call 479-527-9100.

EnergyStar.gov provides a wealth of energy saving tools and information for buildings and plants.

Establish an energy team and conduct an energy assessment with baseline information.

Develop an energy vision and identify energy objectives and targets.

Create an improvement plan and implement an energy improvements program.

Tackle the low-expense improvements first, along with the highest risk asset.

Plan capital improvements, with energy management in mind, that provide an attractive payback.