May 2021 – IMPACT
Inside the Newsletter:
IMPACT 2020 | MnTAP Comtributions | Energy Efficiency | Nutrient Reduction | Salt Symposium
MnTAP Continues to IMPACT Minnesota Businesses
The impact of Coronavirus with remote work restrictions, distancing requirements and general business slowdowns resulted in the need to reinvent MnTAP’s approach to deliver technical assistance services to Minnesota businesses. Virtual meetings, site visits and intern training activities and support became the new normal. A highlight of the year was the opportunity to support 20 student internships over the summer.
The MnTAP 2020 IMPACT annual report summarizes the outreach activities and environmental outcomes achieved for the year. Briefly, assistance was provided to nearly 400 organizations across the state including 70 site visits to 57 unique facilities.
Highlights of MnTAP’s 2020 efforts include:
- 31 facilities implemented
- 40 MnTAP recommended process changes, saving
- 8.1 million gallons of water
- 877,700 pounds of waste
- 1.2 million kWh electricity
- 23,400 therms of fuel energy
- $1.1 million in annual cost savings.
MnTAP continues to contribute to Minnesota’s economic well-being by reducing waste at the source and training the next generation of engineers through the MnTAP Intern Program and student research projects. The 2020 IMPACT report shares stories about the wide-ranging projects MnTAP staff supported over the year. The companies and organizations engaged in these projects are making their businesses more resilient by reducing waste, optimizing processes and saving money. This is good business for Minnesota. We thank our clients, partner organizations and sponsors for the opportunity to work with them in 2020, and we look forward to serving YOUR business in 2021.
MnTAP Contributes to Minnesota Business Bottom Line
MnTAP continues to make the effort to provide onsite technical assistance for pollution prevention, energy efficiency and water conservation to organizations across the entire state of Minnesota. For the five year period from 2016 through 2020 MnTAP provided technical assistance activities to businesses in nearly 80% of the counties across the state. The economic impact of the implemented waste, water and energy source reduction projects totaled $4.9 million in counted first year savings. These implemented recommendations continue adding to the bottom line of businesses for years beyond the initial accounting.
Energy Efficiency in Municipal Water Supply Facilities
In 2020, MnTAP focused on data acquisition and analysis for five municipal water treatment and supply facilities throughout the state. These site assessments were originally planned as in person visits, but due to COVID-19, were conducted remotely. Remote site visits involved digging deep into utility bills and other user provided data sources to assess facility energy efficiency measures implemented and those still remaining. The average savings from the assessment sites was 230,000 kWh per year and was as high as 670,000 kWh per year in the largest site assessed.
The final project task explored the remaining potential conservation opportunity throughout the state. This has been done by taking the findings from the assessments, interviews and original literature search to estimate the statewide opportunity potential for the for each energy efficiency measure. The table below shows the six opportunities developed, the estimated percentage of drinking water production facilities in the state that could still take advantage of each opportunity and the potential savings each site could attain. Overall, the state-wide potential energy savings is 100,000,000 kWh per year.
| Vetted Opportunity | Sites with Potential Opportunity Statewide | Potential Estimated Energy Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Water Loss Reduction | 88% | 15% |
| Customer Conservation | 81% | 14% |
| Pump Efficiency Optimization | 80% | 6% |
| Pump Rehabilitation | 53% | 6% |
| VFD Installation | 20% | 5 – 30% |
| Well Rehabilitation | 47% | 2% |
A webinar, “Energy Efficiency Opportunity Potential at Minnesota Water Utilities” will be presented on Tuesday June 8, 2021 at 11:00 CST. Registerfor the webinar
Industrial Wastewater Discharge Nutrient Reduction
Building on work with Minnesota’s wastewater plants and ponds to achieve nutrient removal, MnTAP’s technical staff have been engaging businesses and organizations in communities that discharge to these plants and ponds. The results for 2020 have included 5 business assessments, 2 summer intern projects and continued outreach to communities and businesses on the benefits of better wastewater effluent management.
The following activities were accomplished in 2020:
- Outreach to additional communities with wastewater treatment plants and ponds to inform them on the benefits of minimizing high-nutrient effluent
- Discussions with 9 communities about the co-benefits for treatment systems and local businesses
- Site assessments completed at 5 facilities, identifying nitrogen and phosphorous reduction along with other efficiency opportunities. Current recommended savings of 1700 lbs. phosphorous, 170,000 lbs. wastewater effluent and $47,600
- 2 intern projects completed resulting in over $220,000 recommended savings and reductions of 5,700 lbs. of phosphorous effluent, 440,000 lbs. wastewater effluent and 240,000 lbs. of total suspended solids.
Salt Symposium – August 3 – 4, 2021
Fortin Consulting Inc. is organizing the Salt Symposium 2021. This live streamed symposium will shape the chloride conversation, presenting developments in salt use optimization for people and the environment. Presentation focus:
- Day 1 – New Directions in Chloride.
- Day 2 – Snow & Ice Management.
Keynote addresses and award presentations on both days.
Register Now!– registration per device, stream with colleagues
Symposium Agenda