1. Saving Water, Saving Energy The Alabama Environmental Council The Alabama Rivers Alliance World Wildlife Fund The River Network
2. The Alabama Environmental Council The Alabama Environmental Council works for a healthy environment with an emphasis on clean air, efficient and renewable energy, and improved waste reduction practices. We provide a voice for Alabama now and for the future. From the low and gentle mountains of the north to the pure white sands of the coast, we breathe Alabama's air, drink Alabama's water and depend on Alabama's land. We recognize the positive link between a strong economy, a clean environment and a healthy, proactive citizenry. www.aeconline.org
3. The Alabama Rivers Alliance Our purpose is to protect & restore Alabama's rivers. To do this, we advocate smart water policy, organize at the grassroots level, and teach citizens how they can protect their water. Our goal is to achieve healthy rivers, healthy people, and a healthy system of government for the state of Alabama. www.Alabamarivers.org
4. World Wildlife Fund Southeast Rivers and Streams Initiative It is the vision of WWF to protect and restore the ecological health of the region’s rivers and streams to safeguard natural processes, conserve native species and reach a balance between the needs of people and nature. www.worldwildlife.org
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10. Only 1% Fresh Water 97% Salt Water 2/3 of 1% is underground 1/3 of 1% is rivers, streams, and lakes 2% frozen in ice
11. According to data collected by NASA and the World Health Organization, 4 billion people will face water shortages by 2050.
12. Water is life. There is no substitute. It is our obligation to ensure its protection for the generations who will inherit our planet. Photo: Hunter Nichols
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14. Alabama’s unique biodiversity in our rivers and streams runs deep. Our state has over 77,000 miles of rivers and streams Photo: Nelson Brooke Black Warrior River
15. The Cahaba River is home to more species of fish than any other river of its size in North America. Photo: Hunter Nichols
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18. Are Alabama’s water resources effected by the changes in our planet’s climate?
22. How will Alabama change as the climate changes? Two models: Hotter & dryer Warmer & wetter Impacts: More floods & erosion ? More droughts & drinking water shortages? No peaches grown in Alabama?
29. The Natural Human Tendency “We never know the worth of water until the well runs dry.” – Thomas Fuller Source: Office of Water Resources
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35. Alabama’s Greenhouse Emissions - Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 1990 = 108 million tons 2005 = 142 million tons (13 th highest in the country) 23% increase in CO2 emissions since 1990 source: Federal Energy Information Administration
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38. Where do Alabama’s CO2 emissions come from? 55% 25% 16% 2% 1% 2004 AL’s CO2 emissions from electricity – 55% US Total CO2 emissions from electricity – 39% source: Federal Energy Information Administration
39. Where does our electricity come from in Alabama? 56% of our electricity comes from coal 16% 14% 23% 56% 14% 5% 3% source: Federal Energy Information Administration
41. What is Alabama’s main electric utility company doing about its CO2 emissions? Not what you expect.
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43. Outdated, dirty, coal-fired power plants are a problem About ½ of the nation’s power plants (548) are responsible for emitting: 91% of CO2 emissions 98% NOx emissions 99% SO2 emissions Some of the worst plants are in Alabama Widows Creek Colbert
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47. U.S. electricity used for residential water heating = More than 104 billion kWh US EIA 2001
48. U.S. electricity used for residential water heating = More than 104 billion kWh Comparison: All residential lighting, indoor and out = 101 billion kWh US EIA 2001
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52. We estimate total current U.S. water-related energy use to be at least 360 billion kWh per year .* * Includes water-related energy other than electricity (i.e., natural gas) in kWh equivalent.
58. Source: Union of Concerned Scientists; Federal Energy Information Administration … emits 3.7 million tons of CO2 (equivalent to cutting down 161 million trees) James Miller Plant in west Jefferson county on the Black Warrior River Emitted 22,890,070 tons of CO2 in 2006
59. Source: Union of Concerned Scientists … emits 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide – SO2 (which causes acid rain and a host of human heath problems) E.C. Gaston Plant in Wilsonville on the Coosa River Emitted 130,494 tons of SO2 in 2006
60. Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, EPA … emits 170 pounds of mercury (1/70 th of a teaspoon of mercury deposited on a 25-acre lake can make fish unsafe to eat) Barry Plant in Bucks on Mobile River CO2 emissions in 2006: 13,345,578 tons 39 bodies of water in Alabama have Mercury advisory warnings in 2006. Many are in the Mobile/Baldwin county area
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63. Thomas Edison once said that burning fossil fuels for power production is like burning your front door for heat .
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66. How much water can we save? (Aren’t we using more water all the time as our population and economy grow?)
68. Alabama total water withdrawls Total withdrawals were 9,942 Mgal/d (almost 10 Billion gallons per day) 2005 Source: USGS & Office of Water Resources
69. In 2000, total U.S. water use was estimated at 408 billion gallons per day In Alabama, total water use was estimated at 10 billion gallons per day
70. Total Water Withdrawls Source: AL Geological Information Survey and Office of Water Resources
77. Old water model Source Treatment Use Treatment Discharge Leaks More leaks Inefficient use Centralized collection Single-point discharge
78. Old water model Source Treatment Use Treatment Discharge Leaks More leaks Major Energy Use Inefficient use Centralized collection Single-point discharge Pumping? Pumping? Pumping?
79. Saving Water A comprehensive, integrated approach Conservation Reuse Efficiency
82. Drought Tool: short-term relief Planning Tool: lessen gap between demand and available supply, lessen the system peak, provide water for future growth Environmental Tool: provide more water for aquatic habitat and flows for water quality and reduce energy usage Economic Tool: defer capital facilities for drinking water and wastewater treatment Multiple Benefits of Conservation
102. What could happen if we did all these things and if we quit thinking of stormwater and wastewater as problems and began thinking of them as resources ?
103. Imagine for a moment that Some day we will all have easy access to treated drinking water and 1-2 other sources of water...
122. So, we can easily imagine that some day we will all have easy access to treated drinking water and 1-2 other sources of water. How would we use it?
126. “ New model keeps water in our streams, coal in the ground, carbon out of the air, money in our pockets ” -Don Elder, Former Director of the River Network
139. Saving Water, Saving Energy The Alabama Environmental Council The Alabama Rivers Alliance World Wildlife Fund The River Network
Editor's Notes
The Alabama Environmental Council, the Alabama Rivers alliance received funding from the World Wildlife Fund to develop a program to connect the dots between energy usage and water usage. The first step is the creation of this presentation. The presentation is strongly modeled after The River Network’s Saving Water Saving Energy (many of these slides came from them) developed by former Director, Don Elder.
