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Watergy - Addressing Municipal Water Challenges through Energy and Water Efficiency Partnerships
[last updated March 11, 2005 12:00 AM]
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General Information
Partnership website(s)
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Expected TimeframeJanuary Pre 2002 - December 2008 |
Partners
Governments:
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Major Groups:
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| UN System:
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Other intergovernmental organizations:
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| Other:
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Thematic Focus
Primary Themes:
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Secondary Themes:
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Geographic Coverage
Geographic Scope: Global
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, India, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States of America |
National Focal Points
This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
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Goals and Objectives
Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
Purpose: The Alliance Watergy Program works with local and regional partners in developing countries to develop sustainable strategies for increasing energy efficiency within municipal water supply systems. While water provision is the immediate concern of water utilities, energy for water pumping and treatment is one of the main components of a water utility¿s costs. In many developing countries the energy used for the basic service of water provision to urban residents accounts anywhere from 40 to 70 percent of a municipality¿s total budget. The fact that large numbers of people in the developing world still lack ready access to water places more pressure upon decision makers to develop sustainable energy and water management strategies. The Alliance Watergy Program¿s efforts are based upon a holistic model that incorporates the participation of important stakeholders involved in sustainable development of the urban area, and the sustained development of their technical, managerial and financial capacities to overcome the energy inefficiencies in municipal systems. This is done by systematically addressing a range of issues that affect municipalities such technical and managerial capacities, education and awareness, team building, equipment rehabilitation and maintenance, non-revenue water reductions, proper pressure management, effective demand side management, pre-paid water metering, etc. Through these efforts, the Alliance Watergy Program aims to achieve the larger purpose of providing local and regional institutions and organizations with a sustainable framework and the proper tools for addressing the long-term water and energy needs of their peoples.
Goals: The Watergy program evolves and changes as efficiency models are developed and new opportunities emerge. Goals for the program include:
- Build institutional capacity to improve water and energy resource management
- Advocate and assist in the integration of energy efficiency considerations in developing countries, primarily in the efficient operation and maintenance of systems supplying water services
- Promote energy-efficient technologies and practices, especially in optimizing and modernizing municipal water supply systems
- Increase education and awareness concerning energy efficiency and environmentally sound water and energy systems
- Develop innovative financing mechanisms to implement projects aimed at improving energy use in water delivery
- Develop centers of excellence on energy for sustainable development to support and promote capacity building efforts and technology transfer activities and serve as information clearinghouses
Goals: The Watergy program evolves and changes as efficiency models are developed and new opportunities emerge. Goals for the program include:
- Build institutional capacity to improve water and energy resource management
- Advocate and assist in the integration of energy efficiency considerations in developing countries, primarily in the efficient operation and maintenance of systems supplying water services
- Promote energy-efficient technologies and practices, especially in optimizing and modernizing municipal water supply systems
- Increase education and awareness concerning energy efficiency and environmentally sound water and energy systems
- Develop innovative financing mechanisms to implement projects aimed at improving energy use in water delivery
- Develop centers of excellence on energy for sustainable development to support and promote capacity building efforts and technology transfer activities and serve as information clearinghouses
Targets and Progress
Partnership targetsObjectives: Building on existing efforts and infrastructure, the Alliance aims to continue building on an extensive network of partners with the capacity and tools to empower water utilities in developing countries to embrace the potential that Watergy efficiency holds. This effort will improve local management of water systems, improve local governance and increase transparency of water utilities, reduce energy use and water waste, and benefit local air quality and water supply and ultimately enhance the ability of local and regional governments to achieve their goals of sustainable development.
Targets: - Build the capacity of regional and state government and non-government institutions in developing countries for improved water and energy planning, project implementation and management, and more efficient system operation at the municipal level, through technical, managerial and financial assistance. - Advocate and assist in the integration of energy efficiency considerations in the development of regional and local socioeconomic programs in developing countries, primarily in the efficient operation and maintenance of systems supplying water services. - Promote the use of improved energy-efficient technologies and practices, giving special attention to the rehabilitation and modernization of municipal water supply systems. - Promote and develop strategic plans aimed at increasing education and awareness at the local, national, sub-regional and regional levels concerning energy efficiency and environmentally sound water and energy systems. - Development of innovative financing mechanisms to assist institutions and organizations at the state and municipal levels to implement projects aimed at improving water delivery and increasing the availability of such services to the urban poor. - Development centers of excellence on energy for sustainable development, including regional networks, by linking competent centers on energy technologies for sustainable development that could support and promote efforts at capacity building and technology transfer activities as well as serve as information clearing houses. |
Progress against targetsThe Alliance India Watergy Program, since 1996 has been actively building the capacity of state institutions such as the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), Maharashtra State Urban Development Department to effectively plan and manage the energy efficient supply of urban water services and to enact policy mechanisms ensuring the sustainability of energy efficient projects.
In the Philippines, the Alliance has developed the technical capacity among universities and the private sector to perform energy audits for water utilities. The India Watergy Program has established Energy Management Cells at KUIDFC, MEDA and AIILSG that serve as regional nodes assisting municipalities in capacity building for implementation of energy saving projects and also as information clearing houses on energy for sustainable development. Since its inception, the India Watergy Program has directly worked with 15 municipalities and has trained over 300 senior and mid-level managers and engineers in energy efficient practices. Since 2002, the Sri Lanka Watergy Program has partnered with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) to first build NWSDB¿s capacity to undertake energy efficiency projects, and then to train engineers and managers from municipalities across Sri Lanka and non-government institutions to enhance water supply services through improved systems operations. The Sri Lanka Watergy Program has established an Energy Savings Unit at NWSDB that serves the national nodal agency in energy for sustainable development. The Alliance has been working in Brazil to promote and reduce barriers for the use of innovative financing mechanisms like performance contracting for improving energy efficiency project implementation. The Alliance¿s Watergy work in Mexico has included convening a national multi-stakeholder policy discussion aimed at integrating available technical knowledge and government subsidized financing options for energy efficiency. |
Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
- Human resources development/training
- Education/building awareness
- Institutional strengthening, including local participation
- Technology transfer/exchange
Human Resources Development/Training: The Watergy Program trains senior and mid level managers and engineers from municipalities and state institutions to identify energy saving opportunities in municipal operations and to implement projects to reduce energy use and water losses in these operations. This is done through a systematic development of technical, managerial and financial capacities for improved planning and project implementation.
Education/Building Awareness: The Watergy program, through its publications, websites and toolkits, attempts to educate a wide audience of practitioners, policy makers and consumers. It aims to build their awareness of energy efficient practices and of no-cost/low-cost measures to increase the efficient use of energy.
Institutional Strengthening, including local participation: Through the setup of nodal Energy Management Cells and Energy Saving Units at government and non-government organizations, and by training engineers and managers, the Alliance Watergy program is strategically strengthening institutional capacity to address the efficient use of energy for sustainable development.
Technology Transfer/Exchange: The Alliance Watergy Program has a unique role in providing information and developing connections between technology providers and users to enhance the efficient use of energy for delivering urban services. The Watergy Program draws upon the Alliance to Save Energy¿s expertise in energy efficient practices from its programs both in the US and in developing regions.
Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
The Alliance Watergy Program¿s goals are coherent with the following sections of Agenda 21.
Section I. Social And Economic Dimensions: Section 3.8 p); Section 4.17 A)
Section II. Conservation And Management of Resources for Development: Section 4.18;
Section 9.12 (c); Section 9.12 (e); Section 9.12 (g); Section 9.12 (h); Section 9.12 (i);
Section 9.12 (j); Section 9.12 (k); Section 46 (d);
The Alliance Watergy Program¿s goals are coherent with the following sections of Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
Section II. Poverty Eradication:
Section 9 (a) Improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources¿..enhanced energy efficiency, by intensifying regional and international cooperation in support of national efforts, including through capacity -building, financial and technological assistance and innovative financing mechanisms, including at the micro - and meso - levels, recognizing the specific factors for providing access to the poor;
Section III. Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production:
Section 20 (b) Integrate energy considerations, including energy efficiency, affordability and accessibility, into socio -economic programmes;
Section 20 (h) Establish domestic programmes for energy efficiency, including, as appropriate, by accelerating the deployment of energy efficiency technologies, with the necessary support of the international community;
Section 20 (l) Promote networking between centres of excellence on energy for sustainable development, including regional networks, by linking competent centres on energy technologies for sustainable development that could support and promote efforts at capacity -building and technology transfer activities, particularly of developing countries, as well as serve as information clearing houses. Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Section I. Social And Economic Dimensions: Section 3.8 p); Section 4.17 A)
Section II. Conservation And Management of Resources for Development: Section 4.18;
Section 9.12 (c); Section 9.12 (e); Section 9.12 (g); Section 9.12 (h); Section 9.12 (i);
Section 9.12 (j); Section 9.12 (k); Section 46 (d);
The Alliance Watergy Program¿s goals are coherent with the following sections of Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
Section II. Poverty Eradication:
Section 9 (a) Improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources¿..enhanced energy efficiency, by intensifying regional and international cooperation in support of national efforts, including through capacity -building, financial and technological assistance and innovative financing mechanisms, including at the micro - and meso - levels, recognizing the specific factors for providing access to the poor;
Section III. Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production:
Section 20 (b) Integrate energy considerations, including energy efficiency, affordability and accessibility, into socio -economic programmes;
Section 20 (h) Establish domestic programmes for energy efficiency, including, as appropriate, by accelerating the deployment of energy efficiency technologies, with the necessary support of the international community;
Section 20 (l) Promote networking between centres of excellence on energy for sustainable development, including regional networks, by linking competent centres on energy technologies for sustainable development that could support and promote efforts at capacity -building and technology transfer activities, particularly of developing countries, as well as serve as information clearing houses. Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Changing consumption patterns; Protection of the atmosphere; Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources; Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations: partners for sustainable development; Strengthening the role of business and industry; Financial resources and mechanisms; Promoting education, public awareness and training
Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production ; Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Sustainable development in a globalizing world
Coordination and Implementation
Coordination Mechanism of the PartnershipCentral Operations Office in Washington DC, USA: The Alliance Watergy Program operates centrally out of its head office in Washington DC, USA. Based in Washington DC, the Watergy Program team, comprising of skilled managerial and technical senior level staff, designs country wide programs and annual strategies and coordinates with regional offices in developing countries to supervise day to day operations.
Regional / In-country offices: The ground work, comprising of local capacity development, project implementation and monitoring, program education and outreach, and establishment of partnerships is accomplished by regional or in-country office staff. The Alliance Watergy Program has in-country partners or staff in Mexico, South Africa, and Philippines that manage the daily operations in their respective countries under the supervision of the Alliance DC office. Similarly the India and Sri Lanka ground operations are managed by the Alliance regional office in India. In-country Non-governmental Organization: In Brazil the Alliance Watergy Program works in close partnership with a non-governmental organization (NGO) it has helped established ¿ the Brazilian Association of Water and Energy (ABAE). Building on past efficiency achievements in Brazil, the Alliance Watergy Program¿s current goal is to continue strengthening the capacity of institutions and organizations playing a role in promoting a greater national energy efficiency effort. As part of this focus, the Alliance continues to provide support for the ABAE as it develops a strong and well defined constituency, committed to drawing together multiple stakeholder groups towards the goal of improved energy and water efficiency in the country¿s water and wastewater systems. This unique NGO has been developed in response to challenges faced by water and wastewater utilities experiencing increasing energy costs and water scarcity while attempting to respond to the needs of growing urban populations. Water and wastewater utilities, as well as energy efficiency equipment and service providers, have been crucial forces in the promotion of this Alliance-led effort. Private sector support has included pump and motor manufacturers, control system suppliers, variable speed drive providers, and Brazilian ESCOs. ABAE serves as a forum for the development, implementation, and replication of energy and water efficiency models, bringing awareness of these efficiency applications to utilities that until now have had limited exposure to such concepts. |
Implementation Mechanism of the PartnershipWorking with institutional partners ¿ The Alliance Watergy Program works in close partnership with in-country institutional partners, both government and non-government, towards achieving its regional, and local goals. Building their capacity for energy efficiency uses has been a key element in the sustainability of Watergy projects.
Working with municipalities ¿ At the local level the Alliance Watergy Program works with municipalities, primarily in training their engineers and undertaking energy audits that enable the engineers to identify several opportunities for enhancing overall system performance and improving delivery of water services. Working with municipalities ¿ At the local level the Alliance Watergy Program works with municipalities, primarily in training their engineers and undertaking energy audits that enable the engineers to identify several opportunities for enhancing overall system performance and improving delivery of water services. Working with Non-Governmental Organizations and Educational Institutions ¿ The Alliance¿s partnership with non-governmental organizations and educational institutions is focused at increasing the capacity of non-state institutions to improve transparency, accountability and inclusion of civil society in developing and implementing energy efficiency programs, both at the local and regional level. In Brazil, the Alliance has been instrumental in the establishment of a non-governmental organization ¿ Brazilian Association for Water and Energy (ABAE) - that shall play an important role in the strategic energy efficiency planning regionally. Working with Technical Consultants: The Alliance Watergy Program actively employs the services of local technical consultants wherever possible to ensure the building of local technical capacity and to promote important local public-private partnerships. In India and Sri Lanka, The Energy Resources Institute was employed to train engineers in Energy Savings Units that now serve has nodal technical contacts. In Philippines, the Alliance has developed the capacity of the University of Philippines, as local technical consultants wherever possible. In Mexico, the Alliance has partnered with the Mexican-American Foundation for Science (FUMEC), CEMCAS and the Mexican Technology Institute (IMTA). |
Resources
Funding Currently AvailableAmount in US$: 900000
Source(s): Government
USAID |
Non-financial resources availableType(s): Computers - Office space - Staff
Source(s): Government
USAID |
Funding SoughtRequired Amount in US$: 2000000
Source(s) already approached: Tinker Foundation, UN Foundation, State Department, Environmental Protection Agency, NYSERDA, IADB, US Department of Energy, REEEP, World Bank, Asian Development Bank
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Non-financial resources soughtRequirement(s):
Source(s) approached and details:
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Additional Information
Additional Relevant Information
Working with institutional partners ? Some of the partners include:
India ? Government - Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, All India Institute of Local Self-Government, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency, and non-government - Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor;
Sri Lanka - National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association;
Philippines - Association of Energy Management Professionals;
Brazil: Non-profit organizations Brazilian Association for Water and Energy and ABCON; State water utilities from Ceará (CAGECE), Minas Gerais (COPASA), Pará (COSANPA); State energy utilities from Minas Gerais (CEMIG) and Ceará (COGERH),
Mexico: the National Water Commission (CNA), Federal Energy Savings Fund (FIDE), National Water and Wastewater Utility Association (ANEAS)
Working with municipalities ? Some of the cities where municipalities have undertaken energy audits and are implementing energy efficiency projects with the Alliance?s facilitation are:
India: Delhi, Pune, Vishakapatnam, Karimnagar, Vijayanagram, Hubli-Dharwad, Tiptur-Arasikere, Belgaum, Bellary, Gulbarga, Mysore;
Sri Lanka - Ambatale, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura;
Philippines: Cebu, Ilo-Ilo;
Brazil: Fortaleza;
Mexico: Veracruz, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Queretaro, Tijuana, Monclova-Frontera, Monterrey
Working with Non-Governmental Organizations and Educational Institutions ? Some of the non-governmental and educational institutions that the Alliance Watergy Programs works in close partnership with are:
India: Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor;
Brazil: Brazilian Association for Water and Energy (ABAE), Brazil Association of Sanitation Engineers (ABES);
Philippines: University of Philippines
Successes
Linking and Improving Water and Energy Efficiency - Since its inception, the Alliance?s Watergy program has worked in close partnership with over 30 municipal governments in six developing nations. A longstanding success of the Watergy program has been its ability to bring water-energy (Watergy) efficiency into the mainstream of energy management best practices in each of these regions. This is due in part to the Watergy Program?s sustained efforts in educating municipalities that tackling energy and water consumption together - as interrelated inputs rather than individual ones - is integral to the process of improving overall water system efficiency. Energy is necessary for moving water through municipal systems, making water potable, and for waste removal. Water losses in the form of leakage, theft, consumer waste, and inefficient delivery directly affect the amount of energy required to deliver water to the consumer. Pre-eminent in this understanding is the acknowledgement that Watergy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve water delivery services to existing consumers and at the same time meet the needs of growing populations. The Watergy program has shown that comprehensive efficiency efforts reduce costs, increase the service capacity of the existing system, improve customer satisfaction, and, above all, help improve the sustainability of water supplies as social and economic pressures increase.
Ensuring Adequate Energy Supply - The energy savings realized through water efficiency play a significant part in ensuring an adequate supply of energy for the entire municipality. As an estimate, municipalities in developing countries spend up to 70% of their energy budget on municipal water pumping operations alone, even as they operate under increasing statewide pressures to reduce energy use. Because water systems use a significant amount of energy, municipalities can quickly help reduce the potential for energy shortfalls and the need for expensive new energy infrastructure through the Watergy Program.
Maintaining Sufficient Water Supplies - As many municipalities around the world face water shortages, Watergy efficiency has become an even more important tool in ensuring the availability of water and services to the underserved urban and semi-urban poor. More than 40 percent of the world's population currently lives in water stressed areas; this percentage is likely to increase to 50 percent by the year 2025, as demand for water grows. Municipalities in particular have seen an increase in water demand, due mostly to population growth, burgeoning rural to urban migration, and industrialization. Watergy efficiency is one of the major tools that municipalities have used to maintain water supplies large enough to meet demand.
Minimizing Environmental Impacts - Municipal water authorities have to not only consider financial and resource security benefits resulting from using water more efficiently, but also recognize the environmental risks from energy use and over harvesting of water resources. Most energy in developing nations is predominantly produced by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which, when burned, release high quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), particulates and other dangerous pollutants. CO2 is the primary gas responsible for global climate change and it is predicted to adversely impact world's cities through more extreme weather events, such as droughts, heat waves, floods, and storms ? thereby aggravating urban pressures for basic services. Municipal water authorities considering Watergy efficiency actions have been able to reduce their environmental impacts by reducing waterwastage and energy consumption.
Barriers and Watergy Program?s Strategies to Overcome Them
The Alliance Watergy Program uses different sets of strategies in each developing country, that have proved to be highly successful in overcoming local and regional barriers to starting and sustaining municipal energy efficiency programs. In India for example, the Watergy Program?s efforts have focused mainly at building the technical and managerial capacities of municipal and state level government institutions in understanding, planning, and implementing energy efficiency projects in water supply operations. For example, a key element in the sustainability of these projects in one Indian state ? Karnataka ? has been the awareness and acceptance of energy savings measures by state level institutions that have the ability to make financial decisions to support such activities. In another Indian state ? Andhra Pradesh ? where the municipalities have control over their financial decisions, the Watergy program?s efforts have focused largely on building the capacity of municipal engineers and managers to successfully implement efficiency measures. In Brazil the Watergy Program?s efforts have focused on establishing and strengthening the capacity of the Alliance?s non-governmental partner ? the Brazilian Association of Water and Energy ? which shall effectively coordinate the participation and planning activities of various stakeholders in regional activities aimed at reducing energy use. In Sri Lanka, the Watergy program found it was more strategic to build the capacity of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board?s (NWSDB) engineers by establishing Energy Savings Units and training their engineers in energy efficiency best practices. This has helped sustain the momentum of energy efficiency activities, wherein each municipality, in close partnership with NWSDB, has taken the lead in identifying energy savings opportunities in its own operations. In South Africa the barriers of finding adequate financing mechanisms for energy efficiency programs has been overcome by the Watergy Program?s sustained efforts to establish successful partnerships between municipal entities and local funding partners that need to properly assess and understand the risks involved in financing. In Philippines, the Watergy Program helped overcome the local lack of technical capacity by training personnel from the Association of Professional Energy Managers and the University of Philippines in energy efficiency best practices. This has led the University of Philippines to initiate an academic program that imparts knowledge and skills on energy efficiency to present students, thus enabling the sustainability of the Watergy Program?s efforts.
Watergy is actively addressing the issue of financing long-term, sustainable, municipal water-energy efficiency projects, by developing useful financial models based upon its global experiences. The Watergy Programs hopes these will foster the growth of fruitful public and private partnerships focused at reducing energy use and water waste, with a clear view towards making services sustainable and affordable for the poor.
Replication of Watergy Programs Worldwide
The Alliance Watergy Program has found the energy intensive municipal water sector to be a fertile ground for sowing the seeds of energy efficiency. As part of its ongoing partnerships in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Philippines, the Watergy Program has identified, shared and implemented best practices in municipal energy and water efficiency in several municipalities. Building on these successes Watergy has been able to leverage additional sources of funding for larger regional and statewide implementations, with the help of international development agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. These opportunities, as identified by the Watergy Program, are not only common to other developing countries, but also to countries in transition and in the developed world. The Watergy Program is ripe for partnerships in new regions and for scaling up its programs to translate the success to the regional and national levels and more significantly affect the global movement for sustainable development.
India ? Government - Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, All India Institute of Local Self-Government, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency, and non-government - Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor;
Sri Lanka - National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association;
Philippines - Association of Energy Management Professionals;
Brazil: Non-profit organizations Brazilian Association for Water and Energy and ABCON; State water utilities from Ceará (CAGECE), Minas Gerais (COPASA), Pará (COSANPA); State energy utilities from Minas Gerais (CEMIG) and Ceará (COGERH),
Mexico: the National Water Commission (CNA), Federal Energy Savings Fund (FIDE), National Water and Wastewater Utility Association (ANEAS)
Working with municipalities ? Some of the cities where municipalities have undertaken energy audits and are implementing energy efficiency projects with the Alliance?s facilitation are:
India: Delhi, Pune, Vishakapatnam, Karimnagar, Vijayanagram, Hubli-Dharwad, Tiptur-Arasikere, Belgaum, Bellary, Gulbarga, Mysore;
Sri Lanka - Ambatale, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura;
Philippines: Cebu, Ilo-Ilo;
Brazil: Fortaleza;
Mexico: Veracruz, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Queretaro, Tijuana, Monclova-Frontera, Monterrey
Working with Non-Governmental Organizations and Educational Institutions ? Some of the non-governmental and educational institutions that the Alliance Watergy Programs works in close partnership with are:
India: Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor;
Brazil: Brazilian Association for Water and Energy (ABAE), Brazil Association of Sanitation Engineers (ABES);
Philippines: University of Philippines
Successes
Linking and Improving Water and Energy Efficiency - Since its inception, the Alliance?s Watergy program has worked in close partnership with over 30 municipal governments in six developing nations. A longstanding success of the Watergy program has been its ability to bring water-energy (Watergy) efficiency into the mainstream of energy management best practices in each of these regions. This is due in part to the Watergy Program?s sustained efforts in educating municipalities that tackling energy and water consumption together - as interrelated inputs rather than individual ones - is integral to the process of improving overall water system efficiency. Energy is necessary for moving water through municipal systems, making water potable, and for waste removal. Water losses in the form of leakage, theft, consumer waste, and inefficient delivery directly affect the amount of energy required to deliver water to the consumer. Pre-eminent in this understanding is the acknowledgement that Watergy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve water delivery services to existing consumers and at the same time meet the needs of growing populations. The Watergy program has shown that comprehensive efficiency efforts reduce costs, increase the service capacity of the existing system, improve customer satisfaction, and, above all, help improve the sustainability of water supplies as social and economic pressures increase.
Ensuring Adequate Energy Supply - The energy savings realized through water efficiency play a significant part in ensuring an adequate supply of energy for the entire municipality. As an estimate, municipalities in developing countries spend up to 70% of their energy budget on municipal water pumping operations alone, even as they operate under increasing statewide pressures to reduce energy use. Because water systems use a significant amount of energy, municipalities can quickly help reduce the potential for energy shortfalls and the need for expensive new energy infrastructure through the Watergy Program.
Maintaining Sufficient Water Supplies - As many municipalities around the world face water shortages, Watergy efficiency has become an even more important tool in ensuring the availability of water and services to the underserved urban and semi-urban poor. More than 40 percent of the world's population currently lives in water stressed areas; this percentage is likely to increase to 50 percent by the year 2025, as demand for water grows. Municipalities in particular have seen an increase in water demand, due mostly to population growth, burgeoning rural to urban migration, and industrialization. Watergy efficiency is one of the major tools that municipalities have used to maintain water supplies large enough to meet demand.
Minimizing Environmental Impacts - Municipal water authorities have to not only consider financial and resource security benefits resulting from using water more efficiently, but also recognize the environmental risks from energy use and over harvesting of water resources. Most energy in developing nations is predominantly produced by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which, when burned, release high quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), particulates and other dangerous pollutants. CO2 is the primary gas responsible for global climate change and it is predicted to adversely impact world's cities through more extreme weather events, such as droughts, heat waves, floods, and storms ? thereby aggravating urban pressures for basic services. Municipal water authorities considering Watergy efficiency actions have been able to reduce their environmental impacts by reducing waterwastage and energy consumption.
Barriers and Watergy Program?s Strategies to Overcome Them
The Alliance Watergy Program uses different sets of strategies in each developing country, that have proved to be highly successful in overcoming local and regional barriers to starting and sustaining municipal energy efficiency programs. In India for example, the Watergy Program?s efforts have focused mainly at building the technical and managerial capacities of municipal and state level government institutions in understanding, planning, and implementing energy efficiency projects in water supply operations. For example, a key element in the sustainability of these projects in one Indian state ? Karnataka ? has been the awareness and acceptance of energy savings measures by state level institutions that have the ability to make financial decisions to support such activities. In another Indian state ? Andhra Pradesh ? where the municipalities have control over their financial decisions, the Watergy program?s efforts have focused largely on building the capacity of municipal engineers and managers to successfully implement efficiency measures. In Brazil the Watergy Program?s efforts have focused on establishing and strengthening the capacity of the Alliance?s non-governmental partner ? the Brazilian Association of Water and Energy ? which shall effectively coordinate the participation and planning activities of various stakeholders in regional activities aimed at reducing energy use. In Sri Lanka, the Watergy program found it was more strategic to build the capacity of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board?s (NWSDB) engineers by establishing Energy Savings Units and training their engineers in energy efficiency best practices. This has helped sustain the momentum of energy efficiency activities, wherein each municipality, in close partnership with NWSDB, has taken the lead in identifying energy savings opportunities in its own operations. In South Africa the barriers of finding adequate financing mechanisms for energy efficiency programs has been overcome by the Watergy Program?s sustained efforts to establish successful partnerships between municipal entities and local funding partners that need to properly assess and understand the risks involved in financing. In Philippines, the Watergy Program helped overcome the local lack of technical capacity by training personnel from the Association of Professional Energy Managers and the University of Philippines in energy efficiency best practices. This has led the University of Philippines to initiate an academic program that imparts knowledge and skills on energy efficiency to present students, thus enabling the sustainability of the Watergy Program?s efforts.
Watergy is actively addressing the issue of financing long-term, sustainable, municipal water-energy efficiency projects, by developing useful financial models based upon its global experiences. The Watergy Programs hopes these will foster the growth of fruitful public and private partnerships focused at reducing energy use and water waste, with a clear view towards making services sustainable and affordable for the poor.
Replication of Watergy Programs Worldwide
The Alliance Watergy Program has found the energy intensive municipal water sector to be a fertile ground for sowing the seeds of energy efficiency. As part of its ongoing partnerships in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Philippines, the Watergy Program has identified, shared and implemented best practices in municipal energy and water efficiency in several municipalities. Building on these successes Watergy has been able to leverage additional sources of funding for larger regional and statewide implementations, with the help of international development agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. These opportunities, as identified by the Watergy Program, are not only common to other developing countries, but also to countries in transition and in the developed world. The Watergy Program is ripe for partnerships in new regions and for scaling up its programs to translate the success to the regional and national levels and more significantly affect the global movement for sustainable development.