Water and Watts

The document highlights the significant water requirements of thermoelectric power plants in North Carolina and the energy costs associated with water heating and treatment, proposing policy priorities to improve efficiency in both sectors.

• Thermoelectric power plants are the primary drivers of freshwater withdrawals in North Carolina, accounting for 80% of such withdrawals and consuming approximately 1 gallon of water for every 4 kWh of electricity produced.
• Water-related activities represent a significant portion of energy expenditures, with water heating comprising roughly 25% of residential energy bills and water/wastewater treatment accounting for about 30% of municipal energy costs.
• Implementing high-efficiency water fixtures could lead to substantial savings; if 10% of North Carolina homes upgraded to WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets, it would result in $22 million in water bill savings and $9 million in energy bill savings.

APA

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

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Water and Watts. 2009. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_nc.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_nc.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_nc.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }