Illinois EPA's Office of Energy is teaming up with SEDAC and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) to help local municipalities reduce the cost of wastewater treatment. SEDAC and ISTC will provide free energy usage assessments to publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants.

"The cost of wastewater treatment can be a significant burden for municipalities, especially when the infrastructure is aged or inappropriately sized for the community it serves," says Illinois EPA Director Alec Messina. "This partnership will help municipalities identify ways to improve their systems and realize cost savings for their communities."

The final assessment reports will break down recommendations for energy efficiency improvements at each facility. This will include information such as upfront costs for equipment upgrades or retrofits, estimated time it will take for the upgrade costs to pay-off in energy savings, and the resulting energy and monetary savings that could result from upgrades and retrofits. Similar assessments would ordinarily cost municipalities between $6,000 and $12,000.

Eligibility

To qualify for an assessment, a wastewater treatment facility must:

1. Be located in Illinois and owned by the State of Illinois or an Illinois unit of local government;
2. Allow SEDAC and ISTC access to the treatment facility;
3. Be willing to share facility information with SEDAC, ISTC and Illinois EPA; and
4. Share the final assessment report with the Illinois EPA.

Application

Apply now! Applications are now open for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Assessment program.

Resources

SEDAC's Water Treatment Plant Energy Smart Tip

*Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois EPA Office of Energy.