Energy Efficiency for Water and Sanitation UtilitiesEvaluation of Water Pumping SystemsA series of IDB manuals and tools for water and sanitation utilities

The manuals and tools are for water and sanitation utilities of any size to assess the energy efficiency of their water pumping systems.

TESTELECTRODE

ELECTRODE X

ROD Z

ROD Z

ROD Y

ROD YO%52% 62% 72% 100% distance

between X and Z

R

R

Aligator clips

Ground electric resistance measurement

The Inter-American Development Bank has produced a series of manuals and tools to help water and sanitation utilities reduce the amount of energy used in pumping water.

On average between 30% and 40% of the operating budget of water supply services, in addition to 25% up to 30% of the budget of water treatment plants is used in energy.

With this methodology, the potential to reduce energy costs is between 10% and 40% for utilities and up to 75% for water treatment plants. These manuals and tools will allow the region’s water and sanitation operators to take advantage of this potential and to become more energy efficient.

Ground electric resistance measurement

What is their methodology?Four manuals and electronic tools guide the user to perform detailed energy and maintenance audits as follows:

How do companies apply this methodology?Water and sanitation companies must commit to devoting adequate human resources for performing the following activities:

• Carry out performance evaluations on energy consumption, including its relationship to system operation and maintenance.

• Design an action plan, which involves defining goals, timeline, staff responsibilities, and resources required.

• Gradually implement a dynamic system of procedures, information management, and data analysis, for the programming and execution of monitoring and preventive maintenance activities of the systems.

• Evaluate and monitor the results, which involve measuring progress of the plan’s implementation and tracking actual results or benefits achieved on a periodic basis and at the conclusion of the process.

Calculation sheet

Manual on energy efficiency

Manual on maintenance

Guide for the calculation sheet

1 2 3 4

What does this methodology enable a utility to achieve? • Identify standard energy-saving measures for pumping water. • Calculate energy savings, estimate investments required, and determine time

needed to recover these investments. • Identify best practices for water pump maintenance. • Identify typical maintenance weaknesses and errors.

Example of energy balance

USEFUL WORK30.3%

SAVINGS25.0%

NETWORKHEAD LOSSES

1.9%

ELECTRICAL LOSSES0.5%

LEAKAGE LOSSES

20.2%

30.3%

0.3%

7.5%

1.9%

14.8%20.2%

MOTOR LOSSES

15.4%

PUMPLOSSES

31.6%

%before %after

What will be the results?By applying the methodology contained in the manuals and tools, users can do the following:

• Draw up a plan of action to increase efficiency and reduce energy costs, including a simple energy balance.

• Propose energy saving measures suitable for a given utility’s operations, including an investment plan.

• Create a comprehensive maintenance plan that includes the following: • Inventory of equipment. • Identification of activities and frequency of their execution. • Work program.

Components of an Energy Efficiency Program

Maintenance procedures

EFFICIENCY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION INVESTMENT GRADE ENERGY AUDIT

Main data search

Project definition

Energy balance

Expected energy index evaluation

Evaluation and quantification

Savings evaluation

Economic evaluation

Energy indicators

Administrative

Operation and maintenance

Investment

Work supervision

Energyefficiency

managementcommittee

TRAININGImplement the

action plan

Action planProject

definition andevaluation

Identifysaving

oportunitiesRequired adjustments

Evaluation of real saving

Costs evaluation

Define activities and priorities

Responsibilities

Executive project

Financing plan

Critical route and dates

Evaluation(Diagnosis)

Measuring the tension in pumping systems

Ground

a

Output to motor

Main switch

Energy input

b c

a b c

n

PUMP

M

You can get this electronic tool on our website:

http://www.iadb.org/energyefficiencyinwater

Inter-American Development Bank1300 New York Avenue N.W.

Washington D.C. 20577