Water Agency Receives Energy Efficiency Award
Citing successful efforts to improve water delivery to customers in Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Point Mugu, Southern California Edison has presented the United Water Conservation District with an award for excellence in energy management.
The water agency earned the recognition after replacing existing gas engines used to pump water at the El Rio Water Booster Plant with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient variable-speed drives and electric motors, said Kevin Payne, Edison’s manager for government and water accounts.
“By switching to electric motors, the El Rio Facility will operate more efficiently and assist in lowering air emissions in the area,” Payne said.
United Water President Sheldon Berger said it took agency staff more than five years to complete the upgrades.
Because of the environmental benefits associated with the switch to electric motors, United Water qualified for a $236,000 Environmental Pricing Credit from Edison. The grant is a one-time credit for the installation or reactivation of technologies that benefit or improve the environment.
The El Rio plant processes 24,000 gallons per minute and delivers 12,000 acre-feet of conserved, wholesale, potable water per year to its customers, including the city of Oxnard, the Port Hueneme Water Agency, two naval bases and several mutual water companies served through the Oxnard-Hueneme Pipeline.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
