Directions to the Water Resource Recovery Utility of the Future!

The Water – Energy Nexus The Utility of the Future!

Ed McCormick McCormick Strategic Water Management

Michigan Water Resource Recovery Leadership Summit April 8, 2016

Presentation Overview

• “Water-Energy-Nexus”

• The Water Resource Recovery “Revolution”

• Economic and Climate Drivers

• Sector-wide Water Resources “Utility of the Future, Today” Recognition Program

• Call to Action - the Revolution “Starts Now!”

MSU Spartans!

Golden State Warriors 70 – 9!

East Bay Municipal Utility District Oakland, California, United States

1st North American Water Resource Recovery Utility to become a Net Producer of Renewable Energy - 2012

WEF Vision

A community of empowered professionals creating a

healthy global water environment!

Chicago, Illinois September 26 - 30

WEFTEC – Largest Annual Water Event in the World!

WEF’s Mission As a global water sector leader, our mission is to:

• Connect water professionals

• Enrich the expertise of water professionals

• Increase the awareness of the value and impact of water

• Provide a platform for water sector innovation

Water – Energy Nexus

The Fundamental Building Blocks of Global Economies

Water Food

Energy Climate/ Environment

Earth Biosphere

From “The Climate Nexus”, Water, Food, Energy and Biodiversity in a Changing World, by Dr. Jon O’Riordan and Robert William Sandford, 2015, RM Books; Simon Fraser U. Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT findings.

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) January 2015

Climate Change – Why “2 degrees C”?

• Average global temperature rise above pre-industrial (~1880) level

• We are presently at ~+0.85 degrees Celsius rise *

• < 2 degree rise keeps tundra/permafrost from thawing – and allow human adaptation to work

• At current rate, we will reach 2 degrees by 2030 **

* Source: NASA, NOAA, etc ** Source: The Climate Nexus, O’Riordan & Sandford, 2015

Population Growth

• Human Population Explosion from 1 to 7.3 billion in the last 210 years

….plus Fossil Fuels

• Industrial Revolution - Fossil Fuels “Anthropocene Era”

• 280 400 ppm CO2

6th Mass Extinction of Species

What’s up with the Extreme Weather?

California – Most Severe Drought in 1200 years!

Historical Roles for Wastewater Utilities

• Protector of public health

• Protector of the environment

Water Resource Recovery

innovation

Reinventing the WWTP as a “Water Resource Recovery

Facility”

Driving Forces

– Environmental Sustainability

– Water Scarcity/Resilience

– Economic benefits

N E W = Nutrients, Energy, Water

Water Resource Recovery

Strass Plant in Austria

Water Utility of the Future!

Nutrients/

Natural

Fertilizer

CNG, Biodiesel

Recycled Water Wastewater

Organic/Food Waste

Fats, Oils, and Grease

Water Resource Recovery Facility

Renewable Electricity & Heat

WEF – WERF - NACWA

Utility of the Future A Blueprint for Action

Transitioning from Wastewater Treatment To Water Resource Recovery

Effluent is recycled, not discharged!

Global Water Use

70% Agricultural

20% Industrial

10% Residential

Michigan’s Water Consumption

Agriculture 39%

Power 27%

Public Supply 21%

Other Industrial 10% Domestic Wells 3%

Source: Water Withdrawals and Water Use in Michigan, Saichon Seedang and Patricia E. Norris. MSU, February 2011.

The Water – Energy Nexus

• Energy sector consumes 15% of the world’s water

• Water sector consumes over 7% of the world’s energy (19% in California!)

• Conserving water also conserves energy

• Conserving energy conserves water

Water Use per Person

The Developing World’s Rising Standard of Living

Grains Fruit &

Vegetables Meat &

Dairy

Water Consumption for Power Generation

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

Nuclear Oil Coal NaturalGas

Solar Wind

Litr

es

pe

r M

Wh

Source: Water for Energy, Chapter 17 of the World Energy Outlook, International Energy Agency, 2012

Water Reuse

Source: NatGeo

Source: WERF

Water Needed to Produce Food

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Vegetables Chicken Pork Beef

Tho

usa

nd

s o

f G

allo

ns

pe

r P

ou

nd

Source: Pacific Institute

Treatment plants become net energy producers…nutrient harvesters

Energy Use in Water Sector

Drinking water and wastewater consumes:

• 3-4% of U.S. electricity1

• 7% of worldwide electricity1

• 19% of California electricity!2

1. Electric Power Research Institute (Burton 1996)

2. Energy Down the Drain: The Hidden Costs of

California’s Water Supply

Biogas Co-generation

WASTE BIOGAS GREEN ENERGY

http://www.appleton.org/

Co-Digestion!

• Renewable Electricity

& Heat

– Fats, oils, grease

– Organic “wastes”

• Clean gas and use as transportation fuel

Stevens Point, WI

Kobe, Japan – CNG Fleet

EBMUD Food Waste to Energy

• Commercial Food Waste

– SF Bay Area ~1,700 tpd day

– Sustainable, local, high

energy value feed stock

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission credits – biogas

use

Solid and Liquid Waste

Receiving Station

Food Waste Delivery

Program Benefits

• Provides a sound, environmentally-

responsible discharge option for high

strength trucked organic “wastes”

• Diverts waste from landfills

• Creates renewable “green” power

Michigan State University

Communities are re-designed to integrate

Green & Gray Infrastructure

Utilities engage with their communities

Communicate

the

Value of Water, Food &

Energy!

www.thevalueofwater.org

What the Water Sector is Doing to Respond

• Water & Energy Vision

• Water & Energy Team & Champion

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” - Tom Peters

Create a Water & Energy Efficiency Culture

Energy Summit Participants

Utilities

Regulators

Research & Academia

Manufacturers Energy Sector

Consulting Engineers

Water, Science & Engineering

Center

Water - Energy Summit

• Strategic Management • Organizational Culture • Demand Reduction – Conservation • Renewable Energy Production • Outreach & Communications

Energy Content of Wastewater is 5x Energy Needed for Treatment!

Thermal 80%

Chemical 20%

Thermal Chemical Hydraulic

WERF Project ENER1C12a (2014)

The Revolution Starts Now! • A New Ethic in how we produce & consume

water and energy

What is Accelerating the Revolution?

1. Decreasing Cost of New Technologies

2. Public Policy Changes

• Mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standards

3. Physical Events

• Weather event-related insurance settlements have tripled in 30 years

• Lloyd’s determined the effect of sea level rise

increased their Super Storm Sandy cost payout by 30% in NYC alone – led to “Stress Testing”

4. Investor Concerns

• Climate Change threatens our financial resilience and long-term prosperity

• Fossil fuel reserves will be stranded to stay within a 2 degree Celsius rise – driving valuation of companies that produce and consume fossil fuels lower over time

• Divestment is already quietly underway….60 cities worldwide

WRRF Energy Use

Activated Sludge

• Uses ~50% of the energy demand of a typical wastewater treatment plant

• Activated Sludge was first utilized in 1913

• We need new – more energy efficient - technology!

• Anaerobic Secondary Treatment is on the horizon!

Water Sector Must reduce its Energy Footprint!

• Energy Efficiency - Conservation!

• Thermal Recovery

• Anaerobic Secondary (less energy intensive treatment technologies)

• Bottled Water

Energy Sector – Moving to Renewables!

• Significantly reduces water consumption

• Frees up water for global growth

- agriculture

- drinking water

• Reduces climate impacts/greenhouse gases

Energy Sector Must Reduce its Water Footprint!

• Water Conservation

• Industrial Water Reuse

• Renewable Energy

• Biofuels

Renewable Energy

Energy Sector

• Solar

• Wind

• Geothermal

• Biomass

Water Sector

• Biogas - Electricity & Heat

- Vehicle Fuel

- Biomethanization

• Heat Recovery

The Water - Food Nexus

• 70+% of the world’s water consumption

• Wasting food wastes water…. and energy

• 1/3 of food is wasted: 1/3rd x 70% = 23% of global water is wasted just from food waste!

If We Can Reduce Food Waste by 80%

We already have the agricultural capacity to

feed 9 billion people!

Agricultural Sector Must reduce its Water Footprint!

• Move to efficient, drip irrigation

• Reduce Food Loss

• Reduce Consumer Food Waste

• Shift production to more vegetable protein

• Aquaculture/insect farms

WEF Strategic Goal “4a”

“Collaborate with water sector partners to define and create a bold, aspirational, and public call to action

to accelerate resource recovery”

Sector-wide Recognition Program

“The Utility of the Future, Today”

Water Resource Recovery Utility of the Future!

Treatment plants become net energy producers…nutrient harvesters

Utilities engage with their communities

Towns are re-designed to integrate

Green & Gray Infrastructure

Water Resource Recovery

Revolution

Water is Life!

Directions to the Water Resource Recovery Utility of the Future!

Thank you!

Ed McCormick McCormick Strategic Water Management

edmccormick1@icloud.com (510) 590 - 0259

Green Energy Project

Food Waste

EBMUD’s Power

Generation Station

EBMUD’s Anaerobic

Digesters

Biogas

Existing Food

Waste Processing

Facility at EBMUD

Food Waste Collection at

Local Restaurants

New Food Waste

Pre-processing

Facility at EBMUD

Contaminant Removal,

Size Reduction

Currently occurs at off-site locations in

Vacaville, San Carlos, and Martinez