Productivity and Efficiency

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations. Topics addressed in this theme provide insights, lessons, and guidance on how diverse stakeholders are working to improve water management and reduce water use.

Productivity and Efficiency Resources

Energy and Water in the Western and Texas Interconnects

Published: 
March 1, 2014
U.S. Department of Energy
View and download energy and water data collected in support of long term transmission planning in the western U.S.. Data categories include thermoelectric water use, water availability, water cost, future water use and an ecorisk calculator.Read more

Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies

Published: 
August 28, 2012
U.S. Department of Energy
This dataset is from the report Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies: a review of existing literature (J. Macknick, R. Newmark, G. Heath and K.C. Hallett) and provides estimates of operational water withdrawal and water consumption factors for...Read more

Geographic Footprint of Electricity Use for Water Services in the Western U.S.

Published: 
June 25, 2014
U.S. Department of Energy
A significant fraction of our nation’s electricity use goes to lift, convey, and treat water, while the resulting expenditures on electricity represent a key budgetary consideration for water service providers. To improve understanding of the electricity-for-water interdependency, electricity used...Read more

Potential Impacts of Electric Power Production Utilizing Natural Gas, Renewables and Carbon Capture and Sequestration on U.S. Freshwater Resources

Published: 
June 21, 2013
U.S. Department of Energy
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) has important implications relative to future thermoelectric water use. A bounding analysis is performed using past greenhouse gas emission policy proposals and assumes either all effected capacity retires (lower water use bound) or is retrofitted (upper bound...Read more

Exploring the Water-Thermoelectric Power Nexus

Published: 
September 1, 2012
U.S. Department of Energy
In 2005, thermoelectric power accounted for 41% of all freshwater withdrawals and roughly 3% of all consumptive use in the United States. With the demand for electricity projected to increase by 24% by 2035 concerns have been raised as to the availability of water for this growing industry;...Read more

Transitioning to Zero Freshwater Withdrawal in the U.S. for Thermoelectric Generation

Published: 
October 15, 2014
U.S. Department of Energy
Drought poses important risks to thermoelectric power production in the United States because of the significant water use in this sector. Here a scoping level analysis is performed to identify the technical tradeoffs and initial cost estimates for retrofitting existing thermoelectric generation to...Read more

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