Water and Watts: TENNESSEE

The document highlights the significant water requirements of Tennessee's thermoelectric power plants 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 users of freshwater in Tennessee, accounting for 80% of withdrawals and consuming approximately 1 gallon of water for every 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 making up about 30% of municipal energy costs.
• Widespread adoption of high-efficiency fixtures could lead to substantial savings; if 10% of Tennessee homes upgraded to WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets, it would result in $15 million in water bill savings and $6 million in energy bill savings.

APA

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

Chicago

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

Wikipedia

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

BibTeX

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