June 3, 2019
Dr. Rob Sowby, a water resources engineer at Hansen, Allen & Luce (HAL), is the lead author on seven articles published in journals of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) over the past year. The papers, stemming primarily from his doctoral research at the University of Utah, concern benchmarking, policy, data management, efficiency, and other aspects of public water systems’ energy use.
Statistical Model and Benchmarking Procedure for Energy Use by U.S. Public Water Systems introduces a method to estimate a water system’s energy use as a function of its size, water source, and climate setting, thereby enabling more equitable benchmarking.
Correlation of Energy Management Policies with Lower Energy Use in Public Water Systems shows that water utilities with energy policies will use, on average, 30% less energy than those without, reinforcing the value of voluntary policies to make water systems more sustainable.
Discussion of ‘Systems Analysis and Optimization of Local Water Supplies in Los Angeles’ extends an analysis by others and quantifies the energy and emissions reductions associated with various water management scenarios in Los Angeles.
Discussion of ‘Leakage Control and Energy Recovery Using Variable Speed Pumps as Turbines’ responds to a study by others and highlights important assumptions and considerations for recovering energy in water distribution systems.
Data Challenges and Solutions in Energy-for-Water: Experience of Two Recent Studies compares the results of two independent and remarkably similar studies and recommends actions to fill a critical data gap in the water–energy nexus.
Energy Management Program Leads to Operational Improvements describes how one Utah water system reduced its energy use by 25% in a program focused on low-cost opportunities and at the same time improved water quality and pressures.
Finally, How New England Water Utilities Can Save Energy describes the energy footprints and efficiency opportunities for public water supply in New England.
Another paper, “High-Resolution Energy Intensity Modeling to Improve Water Distribution System Performance,” is in production for ASCE’s Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment.
For other research by HAL employees, see our Presentations & Publications page.