IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2017 - 39

With proper management, water utilities can reduce distribution
system pumping and allow the water supply system to coast
during peak electrical periods.
An integrated energy system approach allows opportunity for decision support on process operation strategies that
increase/decrease loading to follow electricity tariffs and/or
short-term loading response to provide power system flexibility. Thus, there is a need for real-time data analysis and
forecasting systems that will inform process-control strategies. The benefits of such an approach include cost savings,
improved control and decision-support systems for planning
plant upgrades as part of long-term wastewater throughput,
and tightening of nutrient discharge limits.
Water storage tanks in municipal water treatment facilities and water heaters in residential and commercial buildings
represent an energy storage opportunity for the electricity grid.
For example, there are roughly 53 million homes in the United
States with electric water heaters; a direct load-control program
could result in an estimated 0.40 kW in savings per home,
thereby providing peak demand reduction of 5,300 MW,
assuming a 25% participation rate.

To realize this water-energy load management and storage
potential, there is a need to develop standardized communication protocols and ubiquitous communication networks for
the secure messaging of energy price and event information
related to distributed energy resources, such as storage tanks
and water heaters. In addition to these enabling standards
and communication technologies, more research is needed to
determine how best to integrate and aggregate large numbers
of small resources, such as electric water heaters, into the
overall energy management system.

Efficiency Approaches
The sourcing, treatment, and distribution of water require
significant energy. Approximately 3% of the electricity in
the United States is used to move and treat water and wastewater. There are opportunities to optimize energy and water
consumption in the water sector by deploying technologies
such as advanced supervisory-control and data-acquisition

Irrigation 2010

rnia

Arizona

New Mexico

Lake

ch

Mi

Alaska

a

rid

Flo

Hawaii

Massachusetts

Mississippi

Colorado

Califo

on

Utah

Lake Ontario
New York
rie

n
Rhode Island
iga e E
Connecticut
k
a
Pennsylvania
L
New Jersey
Nebraska
District of Columbia
Ohio
Delaware
Illinois Indiana
West
Maryland
Virginia
Kansas
Virginia
Missouri
Kentucky
North
Carolina
Tennessee
Explanation
Oklahoma Arkansas
South
Water Withdrawals,
Carolina
in Million Gallons
Georgia
Per Day
Alabama
Texas
0-200
201-1,000
Louisiana
1,001-5,000
5,001-15,000
West-East
15,001-23,100
Puerto U.S.
Virgin
Division for
Rico Islands
This Report

Iowa

Nevada

ur

Wyoming

Wisconsin

H

South Dakota

ke

Idaho

La

North Dakota Minnesota

Oregon

igan

Montana

e
pshir
Ham t
w
e
ine
N
on
Ma
Verm

Lake Superior

Mich

Washin
gton

figure 5. The operation of irrigation systems can provide DR services to the electrical system, especially in the western
United States. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey.)
january/february 2017

ieee power & energy magazine

39
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2017
