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                    NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                 CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION



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For immediate release: March 30, 1995



                  CITY OF DAVIS WATER DIVISION
                 HONORED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY


The Water Division of the City of Davis' Public Works 
Department has been named an Energy Efficiency Showcase by the 
California Energy Commission, which praised the division's 
resourcefulness in saving energy.

Davis 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 Davis water system serve as models for other water 
professionals around the state."

The Department of Public Works operates 21 wells to provide 
water for a population of over 53,000 in Davis and the 
unincorporated area of El Macero, southeast of the city 
limits.  Since the system includes only one 200,000-gallon 
storage tank, wells must be able to provide enough water to meet 
customers' peak hour needs.  "But by shutting down some of our 
wells in the afternoon when demand is low, we have saved 
substantial amounts of energy," said  Bob Schoech, Senior 
Engineering Assistant for the Water Division.  "According to 
our local utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric, electrical 
savings have amounted to over $100,000 a year." 

Public Works is able to take advantage of cheaper, off-peak 
electrical rates and better manage its energy consumption 
because of sophisticated operating controls installed on its 
water system in 1990.  The computerized controls optimize 
efficiency and allow the water operation to track its energy 
use.  To achieve additional savings, the division is slowly 
replacing its old pump motors with high efficiency models. 

Since using less water results in less energy use, the City 
of Davis is also actively encouraging water conservation.  So 
customers have an accurate record of their water consumption, 
it is installing water meters on each of the nearly 12,000 
connections within the city limits.  Over 4,600 have already 
been installed; the system should be completely metered within 
two years.  

The city estimates that metering will cut water use by 20 percent, 
reduce wastewater flows by 10 percent, and cut energy consumption 
by 10 to 15 percent.

As a participant in the Energy Showcase project, the City of 
Davis Water Division 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:

Bob Schoech
Senior Engineering Assistant, City of Davis Water Division 
(916) 757-5686

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

End of file
File Name: 95-03-30_Davis_Water_District_Awar