Energy Efficient Wastewater Treatment

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Energy Efficient Wastewater Treatment is not only preferable but also crucial considering the ever-increasing utility demands and costs. In addition, treatment plants have to meet more and more stringent discharge limits to protect the environment and public health. As a result, unit treatment processes are becoming more complex and energy intensive. Previously energy efficiency was not in the equation. But now with increasing population and limited energy sources, there is no way to ignore it. Adapting energy efficient technologies and energy efficiency best management practices is now becoming essential and mandatory.

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Benefits of Energy Efficient Wastewater Treatment

Improving energy efficiency in wastewater facilities, a range of environmental, economic, and other benefits can be achieved. They are as follows (source: us EPA):

• Significant cost savings by the wastewater treatment plants by reducing energy cost.
• Reduce air pollution and GHG (Greenhouse gases) emissions by decreasing consumption of fossil fuel-based energy. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) etc. can cause harmful effects on the environment like smog, acid rain etc. They also have many acute and chronic health effects on human.
• Energy efficiency extends the life of infrastructure/equipment as energy-efficient equipment often has a longer service life and requires less maintenance than older, less efficient technologies
• Energy Efficiency at wastewater treatment plants avoids burnout or black out during high energy demands and the needs of building new power plants. As a result, a stable and reliable power supply can be achieved.

Energy Usage in Wastewater Treatment

Energy represents a substantial cost in wastewater treatment, as it is required almost all stages in the treatment process. With pumps, motors, and other equipment operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, water and wastewater facilities can be among the largest consumers of energy in a community. Electricity use accounts for 25-40 percent of the operating budgets for wastewater utilities (US EPA). The following diagram shows energy requirements break down by an activated sludge wastewater treatment process:

Source: Water and Wastewater
Energy Best Practice Guidebook, Focus on Energy (2006)

Planning and Implementing Energy Efficiency

To optimize energy savings at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), a comprehensive energy management program should be adopted, implemented and monitored.

The U.S. EPA (2013) recommended sevens steps for designing, implementing, and sustaining energy efficiency improvements in water and wastewater facilities. This is a Plan-Do-Check-Act management systems approach, which is a circular evolving process that focuses on continual improvement over time. 

The highlights of them are as follows:  

Step 1. Get Ready

Establish the facility’s energy policy and overall energy improvement goals, secure management and employee commitment.

Step 2. Assess Current Energy Baseline Status

Establish a baseline and benchmark facilities.

Perform an energy audit.

Identify activities and operations that consume the most energy or are inefficient .

Step 3. Establish an Energy Vision and Priorities for Improvement

Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential energy improvement projects and activities.

Step 4. Identify Energy Objectives and Targets

Establish energy objectives and targets for priority improvement areas.

Define performance indicators.         

Step 5. Implement Energy Improvement Programs and Build a Management System to Support Them.

Step 6. Monitor and Measure Results of the Energy Improvement Management Program.

Step 7. Maintain the Energy Improvement Program.

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Explore more details under the following links:

Energy Saving Tips at WWTPs

Optimizing Wastewater Aeration

Wastewater Pump System Efficiency

Know more about energy efficient wastewater treatment here.

Go back to The EcoAmbassador Home.

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