Current US energy production uses large amounts of freshwater resources, approximately 41% of the total freshwater withdrawals. Large scale conventional water and energy facilities are typically used to meet the water and energy needs of the urban population. Conventional large scale water and energy facilities have several limitations, which include production and distribution losses, the lack of resiliency, and environmental impacts. This work focuses on decentralized water and energy alternatives as more sustainable infrastructure alternatives becuase they reduce losses and environmental impacts. Conventional water and energy facilities require water to generate energy and energy to treat and convey water respectively. In contrast, decentralized facilities including low impact development, grey water reclamation, and air-cooled micro-turbines can reduce both the amount of water needed to generate energy and the amount of energy needed to treat and convey water.

Water and energy impacts: A comparison of urban growth scenarios and the implementation of decentralized water and energy alternatives

247th National Meeting (2014)

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