Analysis of chemicals and energy consumption in water and wastewater treatment, as cost components: Case study of Oslo, Norway

Adopting a systems-approach to an urban water and wastewater system, while applying a triple bottom line strategy to management, entails a careful analysis of all the sub-systems and components thereof with a view to improving service levels, optimising expenditure, augmenting investments, and also reducing the life-cycle environmental impacts associated with setting up, maintaining and operating the system. The scope for optimising expenses is system-wide, though it varies from one sub-system to another, depending on inherent lock-ins and external factors beyond the direct control of the water and wastewater utility. Optimising the consumption of energy and chemicals and improving the cost-efficiency thereof, is always on the agenda of water treatment plants (WTPs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This paper analyses the consumption of and the expenditure on chemicals and energy at Oslo's WTPs and WWTPs over time. Energy and chemicals for water and wastewater treatment, on an average account for 10.8% of the total operational expenses in the water supply sub-system and 13.7% for the wastewater handling sub-system. There is a perceptible increase in this share from 5.2% in 2004 to 14.9% in 2009 for water and 12.3% to 14.2% for wastewater. Chemicals cost more than energy for the WWTPs, while it was the other way round for the WTPs. The total real cost of energy and chemicals per cubic metre, in year-2007 currency, was between 4 and 5.2 Euro cents for the WTPs, and between 1 and 4.5 Euro cents for the WTPs. The total (WTP + WWTP) per-capita real costs of energy and chemicals, expressed in year-2007 currency, rose from around 10 Euros in year 2000 to about 12.2 Euros in year 2007.