The Water Environment Federation Board of Trustees approved a position statement on the recovery of resources from wastewater during WEFTEC 2011, taking place this week in Los Angeles. The statement, “Renewable Energy Generation From Wastewater”, calls for wastewater-generated energy to be widely recognized as a renewable resource and for a greater drive for innovation in the water sector.
"With the passage of this statement, ae are encouraging our sector to lead the way in helping communities recover resources from wastewater,” said WEF president Jeanette Brown.
WEF believes that recognizing wastewater-generated energy as a renewable resource could have positive, long-term impacts by stimulating greater production from water resource recovery, creating more clean-energy jobs, and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting electricity demand from fossil-fuel power plants. It could also assist advocates in future policy discussions and encourage widespread adoption by making the practice eligible for federal funding.
Many wastewater utilities worldwide are already involved in all areas of renewable energy, from traditional sources like wind, solar, and hydropower to more innovative approaches such as biomass and emerging technologies. With the energy contained in wastewater and biosolids greater than the energy required for treatment, wastewater facilities have the potential to be energy neutral or even net energy producers. Some plants have already achieved that status.
WEF believes that reaching the goal of energy neutrality relies on a holistic energy management approach, incorporating conservation practices and generating renewable energy through the management of water resource recovery and its by-products.
“WEF leaders believe that emerging technologies can surely advance the potential for renewable energy from wastewater,” said WEF executive director Jeff Eger. “WEF will work with stakeholders and partners who share our vision for resource recovery and will also help build understanding of the potential role of wastewater treatment facilities. It’s exciting to consider where the future could take us in terms of water quality innovation and I’m proud to be a part of that process.”
Visit http://www.wef.org/GovernmentAffairs/PolicyandPositionStatements/ to read the complete position statement.
