Level of Service

Level of Service (LoS) defines the level of service the system wants their assets to provide to their customers relative to the capabilities and limitations of the assets. LoS goals define what customers and employees can expect from their water, wastewater or stormwater system. There are many LoSLevel of Service goal categories including energy efficiency. Energy costs often represent the largest controllable costs of providing water and wastewater services. While larger water and wastewater systems that contain a lot of energy using assets usually set energy goals, systems of all sizes can benefit from setting energy goals.

In order to set realistic energy goals and determine potential costs savings that may result from reduced energy usage, the current energy use and its associated costs must be determined. This is known as developing a baseline. In order to develop this baseline, historical energy use will be needed. At a minimum, one year of energy use data should be collected and analyzed. This data can be collected from an existing accounting system, system billing records, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system records, operations and maintenance records, and equipment or motor lists that include horsepower and load information. Along with the historical use data, it is also important to understand the energy rate structure from the energy company. The price of energy and the energy rate structure affect total energy costs. It is also important to understand the hydraulic loading data (flow data) and then compare it to the energy use data. Once the baseline is established, the system can monitor energy use to determine how well it is doing on reducing energy use and its associated costs. The system can also benchmark itself against other systems of similar size.

The most common energy goal is a decrease in overall energy usage, but a system can also set goals related to other aspects of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. For example, the system can set a goal to switch its fleet vehicles to hybrid cars or reduce overall miles traveled. The system can set goals to reduce their carbon footprint or change the type of energy used. Energy efficiency goals can also encompass building equipment upgrades (e.g., HVAC or lighting) and proper equipment sizing. Departments will need to work together when setting energy goals that involve more than one department.

Energy efficiency goals are usually more relevant for gray assets; however, green infrastructure has a role in energy efficiency. Urban green areas such as parks, green roofs and tree-lined streets play a role in reducing an area’s overall energy demand by shading building surfaces, deflecting radiation from the sun, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere. Some green infrastructure practices or installations reduce stormwater flows into sewer systems, saving energy that would be used to transport and/or treat that stormwater. LoSLevel of Service goals involving green infrastructure are often focused on the multiple co-benefits the assets provide including reducing overall energy demand and energy costs.