Improvements Resulting From Implementing Energy Efficiency

The majority of municipal wastewater treatment facilities began as one of a number of recommended alternatives from a facilities plan. Each alternative is analyzed to determine which has the lowest present-worth value. Equipment for the alternatives is sized responsive to regulatory agency requirements. The requirements generally are to meet peak loadings twenty years in the future, so selections are made based only on peak conditions. With this typical design approach, many wastewater treatment facilities have numerous opportunities to save energy. Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Water/Wastewater program has assisted many facilities in reducing their energy consumption by assessing how a change in equipment selection can provide adequate flexibility to provide for energy-efficient operation at start up, through design, meeting peak conditions. Further, many of the facilities that have implemented their energy-efficient modifications are also experiencing savings in operation time and chemical consumption and experiencing better control of their operations.