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

Optimizing Industry Water Use: Evaluation of the Use of Water Stewardship Tools by Great Lakes Basin Industries

Published: 
January 1, 2012
Electric Power Research Institute
This document reports on a research study funded by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF), the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), and the Council of Great Lakes Industries (CGLI). The objective of the research was to understand and...Read more

Water Prism Volume 1

Published: 
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

Published: 
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

Published: 
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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