Much Ado About Water

Resource, Jul 2008 by Adams, Tom

Water supplies in southeastern states reached historic lows during 2007. According to Georgia state climatologist David Stooksbury, this condition is expected to continue in 2008. Although reservoirs have filled in some locations during the winter months, low levels are expected to persist during the summer and fall. Periods of drought are not uncommon in the southeastern Sunbelt, and the region has experienced two decades of rapid growth in population, but water infrastructure improvements have lagged, according to supply experts such as Mark Crisp at the Atlanta engineering firm C. H. Guernsey. Increased employment opportunities from the expansion of several commercial and industrial sectors, including agribusiness, forest products, and food processing, is driving some of the growth. Electric utilities' massive need for steam and cooling water is second only to agriculture in the region's water consumptive activities.

In past decades, the southeast region met increased electrical demand by building coal and nuclear power plants. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), the region depends on fossil fuels and nuclear power for 94 percent of its power generation. Since 2000, in Georgia all new electricity is generated from natural gas-fired combined-cycle package plants. According to EIA, increasing natural gas use by the electric utility sector nationwide is driving up natural gas imports and prices. Natural gas is used to make hydrogen, the principle unit cost associated with the production of nitrogen fertilizer.

Much ado leads to prayer, plans, and sustainable practices

Water shortages in the Southeast generated a beehive of activity last year. Public prayer meetings were organized to pray for rain. Plans for new reservoirs are still being drawn and water wells dug. Local governments organized intensive residential water conservation campaigns.

In Georgia, the universities and state government teamed to provide workshops to assist business, industry, institutions, and local governments with conserving water. The Georgia Environmental Partnership (the University of Georgia Faculty of Engineering Outreach Service, the Cooperative Extension Service, the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources) conduct water conservation workshops across the state.

However, it is increasingly recognized that long-term water security will only be attained through implementation of sustainable societal practices. These practices are being adopted by the 35 learning institutions comprising the University System of Georgia through the leadership provided by Michael F. Adams, president of the University of Georgia, and the University System's Chancellor, Errol B. Davis, Jr. A Sustainable Energy Management Plan is being adopted by the University System that encompasses water and utility use and supply. Originally conceived to control increasing energy costs, the Plan recognizes the connectivity between water, energy, and solid waste issues. According to the plan, in cooperation with businesses and industry, colleges and universities will be a showcase for sustainable practices. Students are learning while participating in planning and design. Many sustainable practices are already being designed and used-construction of green buildings, water harvesting, grey water use, storm water management, distributed energy generation, and the production and use of renewable energy and fuels. It is now widely recognized that sustainable practices also offer opportunities for reducing institutional operating costs.

Energy tech on the rise

In recognition of the relationships between climate change, water resources and fossil fuels in electrical generation, Georgia is supporting the proposal for the establishment of an International Renewable Energy Technology Institute (IRETI) in the United States. In partnership with the U.S. and Swedish governments, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, and businesses worldwide are proposing to unleash the power of entrepreneurship by establishing centers for renewable energy education, applied research, and outreach. Partnering with international business, the centers of IRETI will work to exchange and implement successful commercial renewable energy technologies.

For southeastern states in the United States, biomass is a major renewable energy resource. Technologies of interest include distributed energy generation through combined heat and power (CHP) biomass plants, district heating plants using woodchips and biomass pellets, central biomass powered and hybrid solar HVAC systems in homes and businesses, biomass heaters for on-farm animal housing, and liquid transportation fuels from biomass. These technologies are successfully used in Europe, the Americas, and other countries and greatly reduce dependence on fossil fuels and electricity and electricity generated from fossil energy.

Implementation of renewable energy technologies will assist in improving water supply and water quality. The southeastern states need access to wind energy generated in western and midwestern states. Electrical transmission interConnectivity with other regions is lacking. Even so, Florida Power and Light has become the largest owner of wind turbines in Texas, California, and across the United States. Additionally, it is anticipated that advances in photo voltaic and geothermal technologies will offer opportunities for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, water use, and contamination in the Southeast.