Is it time for an energy audit?

Surprising as it may sound, approximately 3% of the total electricity generated by the electric power industry in the U.S. is consumed by the water and wastewater industry.

- By Patrick Clifford, Senior Associate at CTE.

After all, electricity is an inherent element of the process of treating water and wastewater. The electric costs that these water and wastewater facilities incur are a significant portion of their annual operating budgets. Water and wastewater treatment plants are using more electricity than ever, due to demands for increased service and new regulations for upgraded treatment. Increases in these electrical costs will have significant budgetary consequences for these facilities.

It is estimated that the energy consumption at water and wastewater facilities will grow by over 20% over the next 15 years.

View the entire article as published in Water & Wastes Digest, March 2007, Volume: 47, Number: 3