With utilities and facility operators under growing pressure to reduce their energy costs, a new report out on the Water-Energy Simulator (WESim) might just be the thing they are looking for.
Published by the Water Reuse Association, the report entitled “Implications of Future Water Supply Sources for Energy Demands” provides background information on the tool, including a detailed user guide.
The analytical tool allows users to evaluate the energy and greenhouse gas implications of population growth, the impact of climate change, the development of alternative water and energy sources, and water treatment improvements resulting from stricter water-quality guidelines and emerging contaminants.
Suitable for individual water utilities and groups of water utilities, as well as policy and decision makers, WESim provides a common framework for users to explore alternative scenarios.
For example, users can compare the energy and greenhouse gas implications of using recycled waterversus seawater desalination. Alternatively, users can explore the implications of installing ozone disinfection at a water treatment facility or biogas recovery at a wastewater treatment facility.
Report authors Heather Cooley from the Pacific Institute and Robert Wilkinson from the University of California said users can evaluate ways to offset energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by installing renewable energy generation or investing in water conservation and efficiency.
###
