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                    NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                 CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION



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For immediate release: March 24, 1995



              WATSONVILLE MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM 
                 HONORED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY


The Watsonville Municipal Water System has been named an 
Energy Efficiency Showcase by the California Energy Commission, 
which praised the system's resourcefulness in saving energy.

The system is one of only 10 water suppliers to be selected for 
the Commission's Energy Showcase project.  Sixteen wastewater 
districts were also selected from the more than 4,000 water and 
sewer agencies in California.

"The Showcase program was designed to reward and spotlight 
energy efficient water suppliers like this one," explained 
Commissioner Jananne Sharpless of the Energy Commission.  
"With their dedicated approach to energy use, the operators of 
the Watsonville Municipal Water System serve as models for other 
water professionals around the state."

Operating 12 wells and 10 storage reservoirs, Watsonville 
Municipal furnishes water to over 48,000 city residents.  To cut 
its utility costs and save energy, the water system recently 
installed a sophisticated computerized control program which 
optimizes the water operation's efficiency and allows it to 
track and record its energy use.  It is also installing premium 
efficiency pump motors that use less electricity and variable 
frequency drives that pump water more efficiently 

Since using less water also results in less energy consumption, 
the Watsonville Municipal has also adopted water conservation as 
a cornerstone of its efficiency plan.  "Water not produced does 
not require pumping, treatment nor boosting," explained John 
McGuire, Manager of the Water Division.  "We have realized 
significant decreases in water usage and electrical consumption, 
due largely to our conservation efforts."

As a participant in the Energy Showcase project, the Watsonville 
Municipal Water System will serve as a demonstration site, 
allowing other water suppliers to learn from its accomplishments.  

"The Energy Commission is encouraging every water supplier and 
every wastewater agency in the state to become as energy 
efficient as possible," said Sharpless.  "It makes good 
business sense.  Californians spend over half a billion dollars 
a year to pump and treat their water and sewage.  If every agency 
could cut its energy bill by 10 percent, the savings statewide 
would result in an additional $50 million a year that could be 
used to replace old pipes and aging infrastructure, improve 
water quality, and increase the amount of water recycling."


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For more information, contact:

	
John H. McGuire
Water Division Manager, 
Watsonville Municipal Water System, (408) 728-6049

Rob Schlichting, California Energy Commission, (916) 654-5159		


End of file
File Name: 95-03-24_Watsonville_Municipal_Water_Honore