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Greater Augusta Utility District Recognized with Award at Governor's Carbon Challenge Networking and Expo Forum Achieving 12% Reduction in Carbon Emissions!

The Greater Augusta Utility District achieved a 12% reduction in carbon emissions and recognized with an award at the Governor's Carbon Challenge Networking and Expo Forum on March 17th!  The District has demonstrated great progress in carbon emissions reduction, already exceeding their 10% goal set for 2010. 

Several facility improvements have contributed to their carbon emissions reduction and improved energy efficiency.  The District decreased fuel usage by approximately 33% for heating its three main buildings.  Their new garage has radiant floor heating and replaced an older building with electric heat.  Secondly, staffing time has been reduced from 24 to 12 hours per day thereby reducing facility lighting and heating requirements.  Automatic lighting systems also contribute to energy savings.  And though facility operations are weather dependent, new equipment and technologies have provided more efficient ways to operate (reducing power usage per million gallons of water treated) as water flow increases in response to weather events.     

Plant Manager, Mike Grove, says “The Greater Augusta Utility District endeavors to conserve resources to provide economical and environmentally beneficial service to the public. The District will continue conservation efforts in all our projects and facility improvements.”  The District serves the Augusta region, providing drinking water for 5,700 customers in Augusta and five neighboring municipalities from three groundwater wells.  The District also provides wastewater handling for 5,400 customers in the cities of Augusta and Hallowell in addition to treatment for customers also in Manchester, Winthrop, and Monmouth at their advanced wastewater treatment plant before discharging to the Kennebec River.  The District also manages stormwater pipes for the City of Augusta. 

The Governor’s Carbon Challenge is operated from the DEP’s Office of Innovation. 

 

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