Contra Costa Water District Works to Reduce its Impact on the Environment

California's Contra Costa Water District has undertaken an number of initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of its operations and addressing global climate change. These efforts include:

Capital Improvement Planning: Strategic projects such as the Alternative Intake Project, are being designed to accommodate climate variability. As an example, the pump station and pipeline on Victoria Island are being designed and constructed to withstand flooding at a level that takes into account sea level rise. CCWD’s 10-year Capital Improvement Program, which is adopted annually by the Board includes projects that improve energy efficiency, develop alternate energy sources, conserve water, and are adaptable to changing climatic conditions.

Relying Less on Fossil Fuels: CCWD is working to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 5 percent a year for the next three years. To do this, standard-engine fleet vehicles are being replaced with gas-electric hybrids where feasible, alternative fuels are being considered and driving routines are being adjusted to improve overall mileage.

Constructing Solar and Hydro Generating Facilities: At the Ygnacio Pump Station, 250 solar photovoltaic panels were installed to generate enough energy to offset 30 percent of the electricity used annually by the pump station. The 40-kilowatt facility was completed in August 2008. The District's next clean energy project will use the power of water rushing through the Los Vaqueros pipeline in eastern Contra Costa County to generate approximately 1 megawatt of electricity for use at CCWD pump stations.

Facilitating Sustainable Windpower: CCWD supports the generation of clean windpower. The 20,000-acre Los Vaqueros Watershed is home to hundreds of wind turbines that cleanly produce approximately 60 megawatts of renewable wind energy to help meet California's increasing demand for electricity.

Saving Water Saves Energy: By encouraging people to save water, CCWD ultimately reduces the amount of electricity used to pump, store, treat and distribute water. In California, water-related energy use is the single largest use of electricity, much of which is produced by thermal power plants that emit greenhouse gases. CCWD deliveries less water today than in 1985, despite nearly a twofold increase in the population served. In addition to an aggressive conservation program, approximately 8,000 acre-feet of recycled water is delivered within CCWD each year.

Climate Change Research: CCWD is leading an AwwaRF research project to evaluate the effects of climate change on planning criteria and design standards. The total project cost estimate is $300,000 and the project involves four west coast water agencies. The District took the lead in preparing a $100,000 tailored collaboration proposal to AwwaRF to develop a greenhouse gas emissions guidance document for water agencies.

Hillsboro Uses Green Power to Achieve Many Goals

Solar power in the Pacific Northwest? Isn’t that the region known for months and months of non-stop rain? The answer to both questions is yes. While Oregon gets its fair share of “liquid sunshine” there definitely is still enough of the real thing to make for vibrant solar energy projects. In fact, the City of Hillsboro, Oregon, has brought three of its community goals together through a solar energy project located at one of its water reservoirs.

Constructed in 2008, the City installed 570 solar panels at its Evergreen Reservoir and in their short operation the panels have already generated 53 MWh of power. The project was made possible with the assistance of the Oregon Energy Trust and a new state program called the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) that incents renewable energy projects. The BETC allowed the City to negotiate with Honeywell International Inc., for construction and operation of the project through a transferred credit of $225,000. From there, the City was able to enter into a long term power agreement which will save city ratepayers over time.

It’s always been a goal of the City to be responsible with ratepayer funds and this project will clearly provide an energy cost savings. The agreement between the City and Honeywell sets an initial power rate with a capped escalation of 3% per year over the next 20 years. Current solar power costs are relatively the same under the agreement as they would have been. However, looking at conservative estimates of projected energy costs, ratepayers will be saving within 5 years. Over the term of the agreement, total savings of approximately 14% are projected. The Water Department is using this project as a pilot; construction of two new 15-million gallon reservoirs and a 50 mgd treatment plant expansion is planned in the next 10 years, and the department is planning to incorporate solar installations in the design phases for those projects.

A second goal of the City is to be a prudent environmental steward. This project certainly fits that bill through the creation of green power; it eliminates an estimated 64 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year and reduces the need for expansion of conventional power plants.

Hillsboro also strives to aggressively support its local businesses. One way to meet this goal is to purchase locally manufactured goods. It happens that Hillsboro is rapidly becoming a center for the solar energy manufacturing industry. To support this new industry, the City required the panels used in this project be purchased from newly-arrived solar manufacturer SolarWorld.

“This is truly one of those win, win, win type of projects. It’s good for the environment, saves our customers money, and supports our local businesses. We will definitely be evaluating more of these projects in the future,” said Hillsboro Water Director, Kevin Hanway.

Check out the project’s energy production and environmental offsets through a link on the Department’s website, at http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/Water/Solar.aspx. For more information about this innovative project contact Tacy Steele, Water Programs Coordinator: tacys@ci.hillsboro.or.us.

Welcome to AMWA's New Green Projects Blog

It’s a new year and “going green” is hotter than ever. At AMWA’s climate change committee meeting in New Orleans, we talked about launching a “green blog” to share with each other and showcase with the public the initiatives of AMWA members to become more sustainable: by reducing greenhouse gases, using alternative energy sources and constructing green infrastructure. This is AMWA’s first blog and its contents will be another example of how our member agencies are leaders in water.

The Green Projects Blog will rely on you, AMWA's member utilities, to submit the latest examples of your sustainable green projects and activities. Sharing these stories will highlight your successes, serve as examples that will help other water systems implement their own sustainability efforts, and keep the blog current with the latest green thinking at drinking water utilities.

AMWA’s members are leaders in water. So go ahead, brag a little. Let us know how you’re leading in this area. Email your utility's story to greenprojectsblog@amwa.net.

Mark Premo
Chairman
AMWA Climate Change Committee

General Manager
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility