Carbon Free Water

SONOMA
COUNTY WATER AGENCY CARBON FREE WATER BY 2015

The
Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) has committed to the goal of
achieving a net carbon neutral electricity supply by 2015. The Water Agency has
approached this goal by implementing the following:

• Water
  Conservation to conserve water related power
• System
  Efficiency
• Develop
  Carbon Free Energy Sources

Purpose

The
Water Agency is among the Sonoma County?s largest users of electricity. The
pumping and distribution of potable water to more than 600,000 Sonoma and Marin
County residents takes large amounts of electrical power, as does treatment
processes in the Water Agency?s sanitation facilities.

The
Sonoma County Water Agency has a duty to secure water for future generations of
Sonoma County residents.  The potential impacts of climate change will
make it more difficult to meet that mission.  The more the Water Agency
can do to mitigate the impact of the climate change, the more secure the source
of water will be for the future.

Implementation

In
2006, the Water Agency committed to the goal of operating a carbon free water
system by 2015. The Water Agency?s Energy Policy has been the guiding document
for the Water Agency?s energy-related efforts and the framework behind the
Carbon Free by 2015 Program. The Water Agency has been using this Policy since
2006 and it was formally adopted by the Agency?s Board of Directors on March
22, 2011.  The Water Agency used the California Climate Action Registry and now
uses The Climate Registry to formally report emissions against our goal.

Water
Conservation and System Efficiency

To
achieve Carbon Free Water by 2015, the first step for the Water Agency has been
efficiency. Carbon free water efficiency is two-fold; it includes efficient use
of water to decrease demand and efficiency within the system itself.

Since
2005, the Water Agency has helped implement water efficiency programs that have
reduced customers? demand for water. Energy to pump and treat that water has
thus also decreased.  

The
Water Agency has also improved the efficiency of the water transmission system
itself from 2,618 kWh/MG water delivered in 2005 to 2,142 kWh/MG water
delivered in 2011 (18% efficiency improvement).

The
following details the water efficiency programs that the Water Agency has
helped implement to achieve the water reduction shown in the Figure above.

• The
  Water Agency participates in the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership where
  10 water utilities have partnered together to identify and recommend regional
  water conservation projects and to maximize the cost-effectiveness of
  these projects through the Partnership.

• The
  Water Agency provides information about local water conservation programs
  and rebates and water saving tips on the Water Agency website. The Water Agency
  has assisted in the development, implementation and administration of
  Water Wise Gardening Online, H2Ouse Water Saver Home and Qualified Water
  Efficient Landscaper.

• The
  Water Agency works closely with the Sonoma County Economic Development
  Board (EDB) to provide information and programs on water conservation to
  businesses within the Water Agency service area. 

• The
  Water Agency helped sponsor demonstration field days at local vineyards to
  discuss conservation in agriculture.

• The
  Water Agency administered a High-Efficiency Fixture Direct Install Program
  where high-efficiency fixture retrofits are available at no cost through
  participating water and sanitation service providers.

• The
  Water Agency implemented a Sanitation Water Efficiency Rebate Program
  including a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate, High-Efficiency Toilet
  Rebate and Commercial Water Efficiency Rebates.

• The
  Water Agency provides public outreach regarding water efficiency by
  conducting education programs and hosting informational booths at fairs
  and events.

Carbon
Free Energy Sources

The
Water Agency has secured use of renewable landfill gas electricity and large
hydropower. The Water Agency also operates 3 solar photovoltaic arrays, several
geothermal heat pump systems, Warm Springs Dam hydroelectric facility, and a
small wind turbine.  The Water Agency has investigated development of
alternative renewable power sources, such as biogas, fuel cells, wind, wave,
and geothermal energy projects as well as energy conservation measures. The
commitment has not just been a stated goal; it has been a call to action. In
2011, more than 90% of the Water Agency?s electricity came from renewable
sources.

Innovation

To
our knowledge, no other water agency in California has made such a bold
commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The relationship
between water and the energy required to collect, treat, convey and distribute
water (the water-energy nexus) is something that still does not have a
consistent methodology to measure and track statewide nor does it have any
formal program recognition at the California state level.

The
Sonoma County Water Agency has been a leader and innovator in reducing carbon
emissions associated with water as part of the Carbon Free Water by 2015
program.

The
Water Agency has taken an innovative approach to creating a renewable energy
portfolio. The Water Agency participates in the Power and Water Resources
Pooling Authority (PWRPA), which is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that
collectively manages individual power assets and loads. The JPA is comprised of
agencies and districts that recognize the relationship of water management and
power requirements. The Agency has taken significant effort to transfer our
largest loads off of the Investor Owned Utility (IOU) and onto PWRPA. This has
allowed the Agency access to hydropower and renewable resources and the ability
to manage our resources in a way that would previously be dependent on the IOU
portfolio. Each year, the Agency strives toward increased renewable energy and
decreased dependence on the IOU.

The
Water Agency has also demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity as a
founding member of Applied Solutions, a group of counties and cities across the
country working to develop replicable, integrated and sustainable community
infrastructure projects. Applied Solutions is used as a forum to share ideas
and communicate with other counties and cities and allows the Water Agency to
share its successes, progress, and lessons learned with the Carbon Free Water
by 2015 program and related efforts. 

Quantified
Benefits

The
Carbon Free Water by 2015 program has achieved a 97% reduction in electricity
carbon emissions from 2006 levels for the Water Agency as of 2011. This equates
to 21,119 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). According
to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this emissions reduction is
comparable to taking 4,141 passenger vehicles off the road, saving 2,367,600
gallons of gasoline, or providing electricity to 2,633 homes annually.

In
addition, related programs that have provided the framework of achieving Carbon
Free Water have saved 6,000 MG of water and 24 million kWh annually.

Benefits
to Community and Beyond

By
reducing demand and developing and securing renewable energy sources for Sonoma
County water supply, the Water Agency provides more reliable sources of
electricity for the region, to make North Bay resident water supply less
dependent on outside energy sources subject to market fluctuations. In
addition, the portfolio of purchased renewable energy sources for the Water Agency
yields a lower cost per unit of electricity than the Investor Owned Utility
rates. This assists in keeping customer rates down and minimizes rate increases
to the extent possible.  

Reduced
carbon emissions from the Water Agency contribute to the Sonoma County overall
goal of reducing carbon emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2015. All nine
Sonoma County cities and the County committed to this goal.

The
Carbon Free Water by 2015 program can be used as a framework for other water
utilities to reduce emissions associated with water. The approaches to Water Conservation,
System Efficiency, and Developing Renewable Energy Sources to achieve Carbon
Free Water can be used as lessons learned to other water utilities. Also, the Water
Agency?s method of reporting and tracking carbon emissions against water
delivery can be used as an example or pilot to establish a consistent
water-energy nexus approach.