Water and Watts

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute, based on an April 2009 issue brief, outlines the interdependence of energy and water resources in Alabama. It highlights the significant water requirements of thermoelectric power plants and the energy costs associated with water heating and treatment, while proposing policy priorities to improve efficiency and resource management.

• In Alabama, thermoelectric power plants account for 80% of freshwater withdrawals to satisfy cooling water requirements, with a consumption rate of approximately 2 gallons for every 3 kWh produced.
• Water-related activities represent a significant portion of energy costs, with water heating accounting for roughly 25% of residential energy bills and water/wastewater treatment accounting for about 30% of municipal energy costs.
• Implementing high-efficiency WaterSense® labeled toilets and faucets in 10% of Alabama homes would result in savings of $12 million in water bills and $5 million in energy bills. Additionally, solar water heating systems can reduce annual homeowner energy bills by $150 or more.

APA

World Resources Institute (2009). Water and Watts. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_al.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Water and Watts. 2009. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_al.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Water and Watts |date=April 2009 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_al.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2009water, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Water and Watts}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_al.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }