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

Publication date:
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

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

Publication date:
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

Publication date:
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

Publication date:
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

Water Prism Volume 1

Publication date:
January 1, 2012
Electric Power Research Institute
The report includes a high level summary of the conceptual design of Water Prism, and walks the reader through the major steps of a Water Prism analysis. The report explains in detail the calculations for free flowing rivers, impoundments and rivers below impoundments, and groundwater. The report...Read more

Water Prism, Volume 2: Prototype Applications

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
Electric Power Research Institute
Water Prism is a decision support system (DSS) that evaluates alternative management plans to obtain water resource sustainability at the regional, watershed, or local levels. It considers surface, ground, and impoundment waters and all water-using sectors (industrial, agricultural, municipal,...Read more

Managing Water Resource Requirements for Growing Electric Generation Demands

Publication date:
January 1, 2009
Electric Power Research Institute
This report is a general guide to analytical techniques used to address water resource management as related to long-term sustainability planning, and short-term regulatory requirements, including total maximum daily loads, endangered species, and relicensing of hydropower facilities. The example...Read more

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