How to assess the effectiveness of energy management processes in water supply systems

The current paper presents criteria and performance measures for the assessment of the effectiveness of energy management processes in water supply systems. The main objectives that motivate the implementation of energy management strategies are identified, assessment criteria for each objective and the corresponding performance indicators to be used are recommended. Novel performance indices for evaluating energy efficiency are presented and applied to a real-life water supply system for different consumption scenarios and operating schemes. Results obtained are discussed. The current paper presents criteria and performance measures for the assessment of the effectiveness of energy management processes in water supply systems. Energy consumption costs, together with the manpower costs, represent a significant part of operating costs of the water supply utilities. The efficient use of energy is, therefore, critical for the global economic efficiency of utilities. Additionally, it has an increasing environmental importance in order to reduce the CO2 emissions. The implementation of projects aiming at the optimization of energy resources and costs, by reducing energy losses, reducing peak electric consumption and minimizing the environmental emissions footprint is, therefore, increasingly more common among water utilities. Assessing the efficiency of energy use is important to