Barriers to Energy and Water Efficiency and Conservation Practices in Groundwater Pumping

This project examined key knowledge gaps in energy-water interactions in California: the amount of electricity required to pump groundwater in the state and the opportunities and barriers for greater energy efficiency in groundwater pumping. The study results are presented in two reports. Because of a lack of historically accurate data on the amount of groundwater pumped in California and associated energy use, the first report, Estimates of Groundwater Pumping Electricity Use and Costs in California (CEC-500-2023-041) presents estimates of recent historic and future groundwater pumping and associated energy use. 

This report presents the results of surveys of groundwater pumpers on their current groundwater pumping practices and assesses the barriers to and incentives for improving energy efficiency and water conservation associated with groundwater pumping. It further relies on previous findings to simulate how the estimated energy and cost could be reduced with enhanced pump energy efficiency and water conservation measures. 

Results from the larger study enable stakeholders, such as state agencies, electric utilities, water planners, and large pumped water users to develop robust projections of energy use and costs associated with groundwater pumping, as well as strategies to reduce groundwater use and the corresponding pumping energy and energy costs in the state.