Wellington Water – Non-Residential Customer Water Efficiency
Challenge
To reduce potable water demand in the non-residential sector in a least-cost fashion
Solution
Partner with Wellington Water to deliver tailored water efficiency assessments directly to non-residential users
Impact
Our assessments helped 20 high-water-use clients reduce their consumption by 10-60%, saving over $3 million annually and cutting non-residential demand by 6%
Project Summary
To respond to Wellington's immediate and future water security challenges, several programs were established by Wellington Water on topics such as:
- metering
- water loss reduction
- non-residential water efficiency program
Awa’s unique combination of water efficiency expertise, international experience and analytical skill sets allowed Awa to support the non-residential water efficiency program. Awa worked with Wellington Water and high-water intensity non-residential (commercial, industrial, institutional) customers to complete these key activities:
- a prioritisation of customers to target
- selling customers on the benefits of water efficiency
- smart metering of customers and characterisation of water use
- completing comprehensive site visits and assessments for willing customers
- completing water efficiency opportunities customer reports
- producing water and cost savings estimates based industry-specific end use models
The innovative method Awa used for water efficiency assessments allowed focus on delivering a rapid financial return on investment to the non-residential customers. By applying this comprehensive water efficiency opportunity assessment method, Awa produced a report outlining the current efficiency of each water end use (e.g. toilets, cooling towers, filter backwashing etc.) and recommendations linked to rebate incentives for improving efficiency. Only measures offering full and rapid return on investment (to the customer) were put forward. Each recommendation is characterised by the customer benefits including water and other cost savings.
The top 20 high-intensity water users who have been subject to the comprehensive water efficiency assessment make up only 0.2% of non-residential customers. However, they consume 25% of the total non-residential water consumption. Through the assessment, they have reduced their water use by 10-60%, which achieved an overall 1.86 ML/d reduction in water demand. This is equivalent to a reduction of 6% of total non-residential demand and amounts to savings of over $3 million per year for customers in water bills.
The non-residential water efficiency program continues to deliver water savings for the water service provider and cost savings to the customers. The program is helping Wellington Water achieve its demand reduction target and is a key contributor to ensuring a least cost approach to sustainable water supply.
