In early 2008, Water Research Foundation, along with other industry associations, organized and hosted a two-day workshop to develop a comprehensive, multi-year research agenda that addressed water, wastewater, and urban stormwater issues related to climate change. The Energy and Environment Workgroup, one of the five workgroups established for the workshop, investigated the research needs of water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater (urban water) agencies to help them reduce GHG emissions and carbon footprints and adapt to changing energy sources and availability.

Eight participants in the Energy and Environment Workgroup discussed mitigation opportunities for urban water utilities to better understand greenhouse gas (CO₂, NOX) emissions in process trains, embedded energy in process trains (“cradle-to-grave”), energy conservation opportunities, operations and process optimization opportunities to reduce energy consumption, and renewable and alternative energy sources. The workgroup also discussed adaptation issues and opportunities for water agencies to address the impacts of climate change on energy demand, reliability, and availability, and reducing utility risk exposure. Sixteen project concepts were ultimately identified with a total estimated budget of $4.5 million.

The highest priority concept developed by the Energy and Environment Workgroup focuses on optimizing wastewater processes for resource recovery, reducing greenhouse gas emission, and identifying best practices. Other high priority projects identified by the workgroup include the following:

• Carbon footprinting in the capital improvement planning process
• Green certification program for water and wastewater utilities
• Carbon trading and the carbon market: opportunities for water and wastewater utilities
• Advancing process optimization in the water industry to include energy efficiency and control of GHG emissions
• Comprehensive guidance to help utilities develop integrated water, energy, and environmental resource planning strategies as global climate changes
• GHG emission projections for new water and wastewater technologies
• National and international application of the water utility carbon emission inventory protocol

Many of the projects reflect the underlying need for urban water utilities to (1) quantify their carbon footprints, (2) optimize operation and treatment processes to reduce carbon footprints, (3) understand incentives and drivers for GHG emission reductions, and (4) integrate environmental considerations into planning, operation, and maintenance to more holistically address global climate change. These needs will be an ongoing challenge for all of us as we look forward to addressing the complex issues presented by global climate change.