Simple modification saves $12,000 a year

Using a $1000 computerised controller and some know-how, Kapiti Coast District Council water engineers have saved $12,000 a year on the Council’s energy bill for pumping water from the Otaki River to supply Otaki residents.

In May last year, the Council’s Water and Wastewater Treatment Manager, Manfredo Hintze and his team identified that the Tasman Road bore pumps at Otaki which pump water from bores beside the river could be made more energy efficient without compromising any water supply requirements to residents.

“A computerised system was installed to address the pump’s inefficient performance and a 20 per cent reduction in electrical power consumption was achieved. This is a significant reduction in energy consumption, which is not only a positive outcome for Otaki residents but results in a more environmentally friendly operation”, Mr Hintze said.

The computerised controller added to the system cost around $1000. Add to that the programming expertise of the team’s Bulk Water Engineer, Dave Bassett, and the modifications paid for themselves in just over a month.

“We continue to look at ways we can save on pumping costs and improve the efficiency of all our operations and we’re confident that more savings can be made over time,” Mr Hintze said.

Kapiti Coast District Council, Climate Change Advisor Waverley Parsons is delighted the modifications adopted at the Otaki plant have reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by such a large amount.

“These sorts of results are exactly what we’re striving for and a real climate change success story,” Waverley said. The Kapiti Coast District Council became an EnergyWise Council and a member of Communities for Climate protection (CCP-NZ) in 2004.

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