Illinois EPA’s Office of Energy is teaming up with ISTC and Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) to help local municipalities reduce the cost of water and wastewater treatment. SEDAC and ISTC will provide free energy usage assessments to publicly-owned water treatment and wastewater treatment plants.
The cost of wastewater treatment can be a significant burden for municipalities, especially when the infrastructure is aged or inappropriately sized for the community it serves. This partnership is designed to help municipalities identify efficiency improvements to their systems and potential cost savings for their communities.
The final assessment reports will break down recommendations for energy efficiency improvements at each facility. This will include information such as upfront costs for equipment upgrades or retrofits, the estimated time it will take for the upgrade costs to pay off in energy savings, and the resulting energy and monetary savings that could result from upgrades and retrofits. Similar assessments would ordinarily cost municipalities between $6,000 and $12,000.
Eligibility
To qualify for an assessment, a public water or wastewater treatment facility must:
- Be located in Illinois and owned by the State of Illinois or an Illinois unit of local government;
- Allow SEDAC and ISTC access to the treatment facility;
- Be willing to share facility information with SEDAC, ISTC and Illinois EPA; and
- Share the final assessment report with the Illinois EPA.
Application
Apply now! Applications are open for the Public Water Infrastructure Energy Assessment.
Contact
Savannah Feher
Phone: 1-217-300-8392
Email
Map of Assessed Facilities
Explore Related Resources
Program Overview
- Program Flyer
- Public Water Infrastructure Plant Efficiency Program (Fact Sheet, 2021)
- IEPA Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Assessment Program – Presented in 2018 at Illinois EPA Office of Energy workshop by Cassie Carroll and Ryan Siegel, Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) and Mike Springman, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC)
- Sample Energy Assessment Report– This provides a look into the comprehensive review, recommendations, and analysis you will receive following an assessment.
- IEPA WWTP Energy Efficiency Grant Program– Read more about the program here.
Case Studies
- Village of Cambria – Presented in 2018 at Illinois EPA Office of Energy workshop by Danny Rowatt and Bruce Hagler, Village of Cambria
- Video case studies for the City of Collinsville and Kincaid Wastewater Treatment Plants (SEDAC)
- Village of Annawan Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEDAC)
- Caseyville Wastewater Treatment Plant (Ameren Illinois case study)
- Tiny Bubbles Mean Big Energy Savings for Henry POTW: Micro-Bubble Aeration Improves Energy Efficiency at Wastewater Treatment Plant (ISTC)
Energy Saving Resources
- SEDAC Energy Smart Tips: Wastewater Treatment Plants – This resource features suggested energy efficiency measures and details how they can save money and energy on-site.
- Combined Heat and Power for Wastewater Applications – Presented in 2018 at Illinois EPA Office of Energy workshop by Graeme Miller, Assistant Director, US DOE Midwest CHP Technical Assistance Partnership
- Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment – Presented in 2018 at Illinois EPA Office of Energy workshop by Ben Bolton, Energy Programs Administrator, TN Department of Environment and Conservation
Energy Efficiency Programs & Incentives
- Energy Efficiency Programs and Incentives – Presented in 2018 at Illinois EPA Office of Energy workshop by Byron Llyod, Public Sector Energy Advisor, Ameren Illinois
- Ameren Illinois Energy Incentives– Energy provider servicing central and southern Illinois that provides rebates and incentives for upgrading equipment and infrastructures such as lighting, thermostats, and ventilation.
- Illinois Municipal Electric Agency Rebate Program -The Illinois Municipal Electric Agency offers an Electric Efficiency Program for Public-Sector Projects. This program consists of several categories of rebates for improving the energy efficiency of a site. Check here to see if your community qualifies.
- ComEd Energy Efficiency Program – Whether water or wastewater is your primary business or it’s just one component of your operations, ComEd can help you begin saving money and energy. Incentives are available for aeration, pumping, anaerobic digestion, and more. ComEd services the Northern Illinois region.