THE ENERGY COSTS OF WATER
Available at www.harvestingrainwater.com/watergy-climate
How many kWh of energy are used toIn the United States we use 34,122 gallons How many kWh of energy are embedded in a
7
of kWh/
[source/convey, treat &/or distribute]* 1 gallonwater/ person /month . How many community's share of water if there are 100,000
of water from the following sources? person/mo are used to provide this water? inhabitants of that community?
Source: kWh/gal range: Source: kWh/mo range: KWh/mo range:
Onsite rainwater Onsite rainwater Onsite rainwater
1, 3
Surface water [AB] ##### 0.0014 Surface water 8 48 Surface water 750,684 4,797,553
1, 3
Groundwater [AB] ##### ##### Groundwater 21 68 Groundwater 2,115,564 6,824,400
1, 3
Brackish groundwater [AB] 0.0032 ##### Brackish groundwater 109 331 Brackish groundwater 10,919,040 33,098,340
2
Colorado River aqueduct [ABC] ##### Colorado River aqueduct 233 Colorado River aqueduct 23,288,265
6
Desal brackish groundwater [AB]
0.0159 0.0379 Desal brackish groundwater 543 ######### 129,151,770
1,292 Desal brackish groundwater
4
Desal saline groundwater [AB]
0.0077 ##### Desal saline groundwater 262 1,037 Desal saline groundwater 26,179,143 #########
1, 3, 6
Desalinated seawater [AB] ##### ##### Desalinated seawater 297 3,010 Desalinated seawater ######### #########
Onsite greywater Onsite greywater Onsite greywater
1, 3
Wastewater treatment [B] 0.0010 ##### Wastewater treatment 34 102 Wastewater treatment 3,412,200 10,236,600
2, 3
Recycled water [ABC] 0.0011 ##### Recycled/reclaimed water 38 160 Recycled/reclaimed water 3,753,420 15,958,806
Onsite blackwater Onsite blackwater Onsite blackwater
Avg cost/delivered gallon [ABC] 3 ##### ##### Avg cost per delivered share 43 222 4,265,250 22,179,300
Avg cost for delivered shares
kWh/gal kWh/month kWh/month
✦ The United States uses over 3 times the world average of water per capita.7
✦ 0.0040-0.0080 kWh of energy is used to lift one gallon of water 1000 feet.3
✦ In 2005, of all the water withdrawn for use in the U.S., 46% was for industrial, 40% was for agricultural, and 14% was for municipal purposes.8
* Source and conveyance (A) includes pumping from aquifer, surface water, ocean, etc. Can also include wastewater retrieved & transported to treatment center.
Treatment (B) includes pre-delivery and/or wastewater treatment. Distribution (C) means to end-user &/or wastewater discharge.
1. Energy‐Water Nexus in TX (2009), Stillwell, King, Webber, Duncan, & Hardberger, UT Austin & Environmental Defense Fund. Accessed 4/25/2011, www.edf.org/documents/9479_
Energy-WaterNexusinTexasApr2009.pdf // 2. LADWP's Draft 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, January 2011. Accessed 7/28/2011, from www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp013956.pdf
3. The Carbon Footprint of Water (2009), River Network. Accessed 7/20/2011, www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/pdf/Carbon%20Footprint%20of%20Water%20-%20TN%2009.pdf
4. Report to Congress: "Energy Demands on Water Resources." Accessed 7/18/2011, www.sandia.gov/energy-water/docs/121-RptToCongress-EWwEIAcomments-FINAL.pdf
6. "Energy Needs, Consumption, & Sources," Journal of Contemp Water Research & Educ, 12/2005, Younos & Tulou. Accessed 7/21/2011, www.ucowr.org/updates/132/5.pdf.
Incl data on cogeneration plants that produce power and desalinate water. // 7. Per http://chartsbin.com/view/1455, 1550m3/yr = 34,122 gal/month.
8. www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/data/query/index.html, accessed 7/26/2011
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