Presented by the Water Environment Federation (WEF), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and WateReuse Association, the National Water Policy Forum, Fly-In & Expo was held April 14 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to inform and inspire leaders and communicate the value the water sector brings to environmental protection, economic development, and job creation.

“According to the U.S. Department of Energy, critical processes in water, wastewater and irrigation jointly use more than 55 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) each year,” explains John Masters, vice president of sales – water, Danfoss. “For U.S. municipalities, where more than 35 percent of total energy use is attributed to water and wastewater facilities, rising energy costs play a significant role in water and wastewater treatment services. At the same time, a plant’s ability to treat, use and deliver water efficiently – reducing water loss – also has a direct impact on the plant’s energy consumption and bottom line.”

By improving the efficiency of the plant’s motors with variable frequency drives, however, municipalities could save as much as three to 10 billion kWh each year. Not only do VFDs reduce energy costs by as much as 45 percent by handling fluctuating demand, they also control water pressure and can help to reduce water loss.

“There is a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency of these energy-intensive applications,” Masters said. “By advancing the deployment of variable frequency drives – and other high efficiency technologies – the country could work to solve these urgent, and growing, energy challenges.”

For more information about Danfoss variable frequency drives for water and wastewater applications, please visitwww.danfossdrives.com.