In New Jersey, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) has arranged to trade one million gallons a day of effluent from the wastewater treatment plant for energy produced by the neighboring Covanta Energy Plant.
The agreement between CCMUA and Covanta Energy plant is designed to create a “sustainable loop”, according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer.[1] Covanta will use treated wastewater instead of potable water for cooling. In exchange, Covanta will deliver electricity to the wastewater treatment plant at a reduced rate. With the energy plant only a mile away, this application of municipal reclaimed water is unique. Municipal wastewater reclamation projects are typically cost prohibitive because of the costs of infrastructure to serve end users.
In an interview with New Jersey Biz, a New Jersey state’s Board of Public Utilities highlighted that “the use of treated wastewater by Covanta will allow the company to reduce its use of potable water and reduce stress on the local aquifer system.”[2]
In a separate interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Camden County Freeholder Jeff Nash stated, “this project will not only help the environment and get the CCMUA off the grid, but it will also save about $600,000 in annual electricity costs. So, we can help the environment by lowering our carbon footprint while we also lower out total annual costs.”[3]
The final phase of the feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by next year. Conveyance lines will then be installed connecting the two plants. The operation is expected to go online by the end of 2019.
[1] Maykuth, Andrew. Wastewater for electricity: South Jersey utility in swap deal with trash-to-energy plant. Philadelphia Inquirer, September 28, 2017. Web. http://www.philly.com/philly/business/energy/wastewater-for-electricity-south-jersey-utility-in-swap-deal-with-trash-to-energy-plant-20170928.html
[2] Calio, Vince. State’s utility board approves $2million to study microgrid power plan. NJBIZ, September 8, 2017. Web. http://www.njbiz.com/article/20170908/NJBIZ01/170909876/states-utility-board-approves-2-million-to-study-microgrid-power-plan
[3] Maykuth. Wastewater for electricity: South Jersey utility in swap deal with trash-to-energy plant. http://www.philly.com/philly/business/energy/wastewater-for-electricity-south-jersey-utility-in-swap-deal-with-trash-to-energy-plant-20170928.html