OTHER SCIENCE/TECHNICAL PROJECTS

American National Power Water Conservation Project
Completed 1998

Problem

As energy deregulation takes hold in New England, utilities are scrambling to build clean, efficient plants that will put the aging fleet of coal, oil, and nuclear power plants out of business. One newcomer, American National Power (ANP), has plans to build $300 million natural gas-fired plants in both Bellingham and Blackstone. Despite the cleaner fuel source, however, all fossil fuel generation evaporates cooling water and, depending on the technology chosen, can evaporate millions of gallons of water daily.

Objective

CRWA's goal in reviewing ANP's building plans was to find ways the company could:

1. Reduce daily water withdrawals from the Charles River and Blackstone River; and
2. Fund water-saving infrastructure and conservation measures in Bellingham and Blackstone to offset water withdrawals.

Approach

In 1998 CRWA voiced its concerns about water usage to ANP in early planning phases and worked out an agreement that introduced water-saving technologies into the company's proposal.

ANP agreed to:

1. Switch from water-cooled to air-cooled systems in both the Bellingham and Blackstone facilities, thereby reducing its cooling water needs from approximately three million gallons per plant per day to only 14,000 gallons; and
2. Fix leaks in town water and sewer pipes, divert and clean storm water to return it to the aquifer, and replace shower heads and toilets in municipal buildings with fixtures that use less water.

Conclusions

The water conservation and stormwater remediation program that CRWA negotiated with ANP will cause more water to be conserved or reabsorbed in aquifers than the plants will consume. Our assessment of the programs suggests that programs at the two plants will consume 60,000,000 gallons annually, but will conserve or replenish 160,000,000 gallons annually.