Edison awards WRCRWA with nearly $182,000 for installing energy-efficient pumps at the plant
CORONA, Calif. – Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) continues to responsibly manage natural resources by recently saving enough electricity to annually power 165 homes a year and removing 250 cars of the road. The efficient measures have resulted in the presentation of a check for $181,657 from Southern California Edison as an incentive for installing energy-efficient equipment at the WRCRWA treatment plant in Corona.
“Utilizing efficient-energy options that are now available allows us to be sensitive to the environment, reduce demand on the California power grid and save money for our customers at the same time,” said Al Lopez, WRCRWA/Western board member. “We continue to look for additional ways to streamline services and increase efficiencies.”
WRCRWA’s design team has been working closely with Edison to ensure the most efficient equipment is part of the regional treatment plant’s ongoing $44 million expansion from 8 million gallons a day (MGD) to 13.25 MGD of treatment capacity.
The annual energy savings is estimated at 1.7 million Kilowatt- hours and will help keep monthly rates as low as possible for customers. Other benefits, in addition lower energy costs, will include reduced biosolids disposal costs, more recycled water for beneficial use within the member agencies services areas and lower future expenses for equipment refurbishment and replacement.
This efficiency program is WRCRWA’s second energy-saving project at the treatment plant. In 2009, more than 5,000 solar panels were installed to supply about 25 percent of the plant's power during peak energy use.
WRCRWA is a joint powers authority consisting of the cities of Norco and Corona, Jurupa Community Services District, Home Gardens Sanitary District and Western. Western Municipal Water District also operates the WRCRWA treatment plant.
