Innovative Energy Management Leads to Low Capital Cost Modifications for Energy Savings at HRSD

Energy costs are increasingly a concern for wastewater treatment utilities as power costs and demand schedules fluctuate frequently. Demand peak charges can cause large spikes in electrical costs and burden wastewater utilities with unwanted penalty fees. Energy optimization studies can greatly lower that burden by offering energy conservation measures (ECMs) with low capital costs and payback terms. Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) tasked HDR with conducting high level energy optimization studies at five HRSD WWTPs in Virginia. The purpose of these studies was to determine how energy consumption could be reduced without compromising on important wastewater process treatment functions. Since the completion of the first energy optimization in 2011, HRSD has attained substantial energy savings due to implementation of ECMs and the proactive nature of the organization. In total, over 17 ECMs have been implemented successfully with large annual yearly savings at each plant.