Water Optimization Studies – Lessons Learned and Helpful Tools

Steven C. Jones, M.S. Gordon L. Jones, M.S.

December 3rd, 2015

• 100s of water systems, all sizes

• Water and energy audits

• Master Planning

• System optimization studies

• Strategic management programs

• Water quality, energy and

hydraulic modeling

WATER AND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY

WATER

SYSTEM

OPTIMIZATION

Experience and Case Studies

WORLDWIDE DAILY RESIDENTIAL WATER USAGE COMPARISON

(liters/capita)

Note: In the major cities of the Kingdom, the daily water consumption has reached more than 600 liters per person per day (orange bar). (Samad and Bruno 2013)

940

Uta

h

NATIONAL WATER GOALS

Key Indicator Unit Baseline

as of 2010

Target by (year)

2015 2020 2030 2040

Yearly use of non-renewable resources BCM 14.5 10 8 5 5

Implementation of regional water plans % N/A 50 100 100 100

Use of renewable water resources % N/A 60 70 80 90

Metering of all water supply services % N/A 40 60 80 95

Reuse of treated municipal wastewater % 30 60 80 100 100

Reuse of industrial wastewater % 10 40 65 80 90

Targeted per capita consumption Lpcd 238 200 180 170 170

Municipal water supply losses % 30 20 12 5 5

Purpose of Water System Optimization

Studies

Minimize use of groundwater

Optimize water use

Identify and eliminate inefficiency

Minimize water losses

Maximize water reuse

Purpose of Water System Optimization

Studies

Average Energy Intensity of Water Supplies

0.37 0.48

0.62–0.87

2.6–4.4

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Lake or River Groundwater Reclaimed Wastewater Desalinated Seawater

Avera

ge e

nerg

y inte

nsity (

kW

h/m

3)

Optimizing Water Consumption

• Identify the proposed water source(s) for the project

• Identify the proposed use and demand

• Determine if there are alternative sources that would not rely on groundwater

• Determine if the proposed use(s) is necessary for the project or whether projected demands could be reduced.

Optimizing Water Consumption

• Examples for National Guard Family Compound Project

– Public Education

– Require Water-Saving Fixtures

– Installation of Water Meters

– Water Waste Fee

– Water Loss Program

– Irrigation Plan

Minimize Water Loss

• Leak Testing During Installation

• Development of Water Loss Control Program

– Installation of Meters

– Water audits performed on consistent basis

– Accountability for losses

Maximize Water Reuse

• Identify water quality that is necessary for reuse, tertiary treatments should be used for irrigation

• Industrial reuse and recycling

• Dust control, construction water, etc.

http://www.water-technology.net/projects/-eastern-treatment-plant-tertiary-upgrade-project-melbourne/

WATER OPTIMIZATION PROCESS

www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org

1. Baseline Water Footprint

• Identify every water-consuming component • Prepare a mass balance

www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org

2. Identify Efficiency Opportunities

• Perform a water solution technologies review • Rank the various components by water usage • Identify leakage • Identify sources of waste • Identify reuse opportunities

• Cooling towers • Equipment cooling • Equipment rinsing and cleaning • Condensate recovery

• Outdoor irrigation • Indoor water fixtures • Equipment replacement

www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org

2. Identify Efficiency Opportunities Heating and Cooling

Optimizing heating and cooling needs

Water-free systems

Re-circulating systems

Effective water monitoring and maintenance program

Recycling of blow-down

Central heating or cooling

Leak detection

Cooling Towers

Controlled evaporation with variable speed fans

Minimizing splash losses

Minimizing drift losses

Use of alternative water sources www.afedonline.org

2. Identify Efficiency Opportunities Washing and Rinsing

Counter-current rinsing

Mechanical pre-rinsing

Using chemicals and

Equipment and Space Cleaning

Mechanical pre-cleaning

Cleaning in Place (CiP)

High-pressure, low-volume systems These systems

Use of triggered, self shut-off nozzles

Use of steam or hot water

www.afedonline.org

2. Identify Efficiency Opportunities

Engage Your Employees as a Source for Water Savings Ideas

Survey your employee base by asking them to identify sources of waste

Launch an employee awareness program

Communicate with employees regularly

Hold managers accountable for adopting ideas and executing them

www.afedonline.org

2. Identify Efficiency Opportunities

www.afedonline.org

3. Prepare an Optimization Plan

• Identify water saving ideas • Prioritize ideas • Develop ideas into projects • Prepare implementation plan

www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org

4. Execute and Measure

• Implement projects

• Determine metric to measure

• Track progress

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50,000

100,000

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200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

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0.800

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r-0

7

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1,0

00

Gal

lon

s P

um

ped

Co

st /

1K

Gal

lon

s

Energy and Power Pumping Costs per 1,000 Gallons

Total Cost/1KGal.Gallons Pumped

Linear (TotalCost/1K Gal.)Linear (GallonsPumped)

NASA, “The Blue Marble” (West)

Life Cycle of Water Supply

Source: Alliance to Save Energy

Hydraulic Model

Mass Balance

Water Footprint

Equipment Audit

Operational Practices

Training

Tools of Water System Optimization

Tools – Hydraulic Model

Pipe

Node

Valve

Tank

Pump Reservoir

Tools – Hydraulic Model

Tools – Hydraulic Model

Tools – Hydraulic Model

Tools – Hydraulic Model

Tools – Hydraulic Model

TANK LEVEL

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

12:00 AM 4:00 AM 8:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 8:00 PM 12:00 AM

Level (f

eet)

SCADA System

Model

Tools – Hydraulic Model SY

STEM

PER

FOR

MA

NC

E

Tools – Hydraulic Model

WAT

ER Q

UA

LITY

Tools – Hydraulic Model

ENER

GY

EFFI

CIE

NC

Y

37

Tools – Hydraulic Model

WATER AND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY

WATER

SYSTEM

OPTIMIZATION

Tools – Mass Balance

City of North Salt Lake Proposed Water System Mass Balance Sheet

Zone

STORAGE SOURCES PUMP STATIONS PRVs

Existing Zone

Demand (gpm)

Total Supply (gpm)

Total Demand

(gpm)

Energy Cost ($/MG)

Total Peak Month Energy

Use (kWh)

Total Peak Month Energy Cost ($)

Total Peak Month Energy

Use (kWh) Name Elevation Head (ft) Name Rate

Schedule

Energy Req'd

(kWh/MG)

Energy Cost ($/MG)

Source Capacity

(gpm)

Source Flow (gpm)

Peak Month Energy Use

(kWh)

Peak Month Energy Cost ($)

Name Rate

Schedule

Energy Req'd

(kWh/MG)

Energy Cost ($/MG)

Capacity (gpm)

Flow In (gpm)

Flow Out (gpm)

Peak Month Energy Use

(kWh)

Peak Month Energy Cost

($)

PRV Flow In (gpm)

PRV Flow Out (gpm)

1 4,203 1,758 0 1,758 1,758 1,758 $0.00 0 $0 $169

2 350 East / Morton 4,518

1100 North Well 6 1,548 $159 1,400 410 27,418 $2,816 350 East 1 6A 600 $78 1,290 916 0 $0

0 1,758 697 6,271 6,271 $168.74 88,067 $7,740 $169

Honey Well 6 2,020 $164 1,400 695 60,648 $4,924 350 East 2 6A 850 $111 1,432 1,400 0 $0

New Well 6 2,077 $189 1,000 0 0 $0 Morton P.H. 6 705 $92 2,000 1,500 0 $0

Weber Basin Morton 3,000 2,866 0 $0 0 $0

Weber Basin Center 2,800 2,300 0 $0 0 $0

Eaglewood Tank 4,614 Morton P.H. 6 705 $92 2,000 1,500 45,684 $5,962

0 1,500 1,500 $92.00 45,684 $5,962 $261 Eaglewood P.H. 6 2,971 $364 1,600 1,500 0 $0

3 Steel Tank 4,648 350 East #1 6A 600 $78 1,290 916 23,743 $3,087

0 0 107 916 916 $78.00 23,743 $3,087 $247 Steel P.H. 6A 910 $97 1,400 809 0 $0

4 4,778 163 0 163 163 163 $0.00 0 $0 $279

13 4,813 42 0 42 42 42 $0.00 0 $0 $279

5 Alger Tank 4,887 Flying J Well 6 4,235 $374 400 0 0 $0 Alger P.H. 6 1,504 $158 1,900 1,099 0 $0

0 192 109 1,400 1,400 $168.03 51,408 $6,683 $279 350 East #2 6A 850 $111 1,432 1,400 51,408 $6,683

7 4,933 140 92 48 140 140 $0.00 0 $0 $344

11 Gary Tank 4,978 Gary P.H. 6A 1,226 $144 1,360 401 0 $0

200 163 445 1,009 1,009 $97.00 31,803 $3,390 $344 Steel P.H. 6A 910 $97 1,400 809 31,803 $3,390

6 5,060 0 $0 1,033 703 330 1,033 1,033 $0.00 0 $0 $625

12 5,038 0 $0 100 92 8 100 100 $0.00 0 $0 $625

10 5200 Tanks 5,210 Tunnel Springs 25 25 0 $0

5200 #1 P.H. 6 1,451 $193 1,200 1,150 0 $0

0 995 880 3,025 3,025 $198.50 285,164 $33,583 $625

5200 #2 P.H. 6 1,702 $263 1,600 0 0 $0

Tunnel Springs P.H. 6A 0 $0 150 25 0 $0

Gary P.H. 6A 1,226 $144 1,360 401 21,238 $2,495

Alger P.H. 6 1,504 $158 1,900 1,099 71,405 $7,501

Eaglewood P.H. 6 2,971 $364 1,600 1,500 192,521 $23,587

8 5,193 0 $0 86 0 86 86 86 $0.00 0 $0 $625

9 5,367 0 $0 774 86 688 774 774 $0.00 0 $0 $858

15 5,395 0 $0 44 0 44 44 44 $0.00 0 $0 $858

14 5480 Tanks 5,479 5200 #1 P.H. 6 1,451 $193 1,200 1,150 72,086 $9,588

818 332 1,150 1,150 $233.00 72,086 $9,588 $858 5200 #2 P.H. 6 1,702 $263 1,600 0 0 $0

TOTALS 10,025 6,296 88,067 $7,740 8,800 8,775 509,888 $62,293 4,340 4,899 5,737 19,411 19,411 $282.57 597,955 $70,033 $283

Tools – Operational Practices

1

Case Study - Logan City Water System

•Population of 49,000

•Utah State University

•10,182 metered connections

•190 miles of mainline

•1 spring and 4 deep wells

1

Problems Facing Logan City

• Deteriorating Infrastructure

• High rate of mainline breaks

• Over 300 per year

• Extremely high pressures

• Over 220 psi regularly

• Shortage of water sources in summer

• High energy costs to pump water

• Majority of operations was reactionary as opposed to preventive

1

The solution - River Park Well

• River Park Well to provide another source

– Modeling reveals the real problem

– Transmission was lacking and large pressure fluctuations

• Sources were not the problem.

• Need to fix high pressure and large fluctuations

Initial Scope (RFQ)

Well development

Transmission line

Hydraulic modeling

Water & energy audit

New pressure

zone

Well pump station retrofits

Transmission upsizing

Efficient operation

Actual Scope

Well development

Transmission line

Hydraulic modeling

Audit of water & energy use

New pressure zone

Well pump station retrofits

Minor transmission

upsizing

Efficient operation

Project Results

212 13.2 MGD $428K

128

11.0 MGD

$291K

Mainline breaks Water use Energy cost

2013

2014

↓ 40% ↓ 17% ↓ 32%

Additional Benefits Realized

• Less water wasted, Less energy wasted, Less money wasted

• Citizen complaints reduced – Increased level of service – Less pressure fluctuation

• Preventive maintenance occurring

• Crews attitudes have improved

• Safer working environment – lower pressures

• Eliminated the need for a $3 million transmission project

• Postponed construction of new water source

EXAMPLE OF SAVING WATER WITH HYDRAULIC MODELING

49

OTHER COMMON EXAMPLES OF OPTIMIZING WATER SYSTEMS

52

Implement a proper pipeline and equipment

replacement and maintenance plan

Systems not optimized for pressure have water and energy loss

Eliminate Unnecessary Pressure

Looping - Identify and eliminate pumping in

circles.

Leaping - Avoid skipping pressure zones

Losing - Avoid reducing pressure unnecessarily

Loading - Avoid intermittent and inefficient

pump operation

Leaking - Avoid water loss

55

Eliminate the 5 L’s

Pumping in Circles - Before

56

Pumping in Circles - After

57

Inefficient System Layout

Unusable equalization storage because of

tank location or elevation

Inadequate transmission capacity

Unnecessary relief of source water pressure

Too much source and storage in the upper

pressure zone with a majority of the demand

in the lower pressure zone

Automate Efficient Operation

Efficient Pump Station Design

Water Conservation

Breaking Barriers

Lack of Awareness

Operators may not be used to thinking about water

optimization. Utilities must understand benefit–cost arguments for doing so.

Risk

Deviating from the usual routine creates risk, whether perceived or real. Fears must

be addressed and benefits must outweigh costs.

Change Implies a Problem

Utilities and industry may resist new ideas if

suggestions for improvements imply criticism or incompetence.

Cost

Identifying, understanding, and resolving inefficiencies require money that may be

difficult to budget for.

IN SUMMARY

Water systems have significant untapped

efficiency improvement potential

Water Optimization Studies using appropriate

tools such as hydraulic modeling are valuable

in improving system performance and

efficiency

Taking measures to make your system more

efficient can save valuable water resources

and money

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