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Stoneville UESC

Water Efficiency Project Case Studies

Sandy MorganUSDA Agricultural Research Service

August 16, 2017

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The Facility

• Stoneville MS is the location of a large USDA ARS laboratory where research is conducted in Cotton Ginning, Crop Genetics, Insect Management, Genomics/Bioinformatics, Biological Control of Pests, and Catfish Genetics.

• Stoneville is also home to ARS’ Southeast Area office.

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Determining the Scope

• The 103 buildings at Stoneville needed a lot of energy and water efficiency work. 340,000 SF

• It wasn't big enough for an ESPC so we explored a UESC with Atmos Energy.

• Atmos and their ESCO, ESG, put together a preliminary assessment.

• ARS asked them to incorporate a water recirculating project at the catfish hatchery that was studied several years earlier.

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Targeted Non-Potable Water ECM

• Industrial, Landscape and Agricultural Use (ILA) – Agricultural water uses:

• Animal watering• Aquaculture• Agricultural Irrigation

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The Water Conservation Needs

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• The catfish lab drew 1.3 million gallons of water per day from 1,100 foot deep wells and ran it through the fish tanks, single pass, then dumped it into a creek.

• Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality was issuing new water effluent requirements that Stoneville would not meet.

• Aeration tower was failing

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But just before award…

• USDA attorneys issued an opinion that UESCs could only have a 10 year term.

[Insert Lawyer Joke Here]

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• OMB issued a memorandum that UESCs had to have Performance Assurance and M&V.

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By the Numbers

• $4.2 million UESC award• Financed over 10 years• 3.63% interest• $582,000 Buydown + $51,638 for the IGA• Improved 51 buildings• There were 12 ECMs. We awarded 11. • 11 month design and construction period

– Extended 1 year• Saved 2,866,597 kWh of electricity, or 22%.

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Water Measures and Benefits

• Water Measures:– Bio-filtration/water recycling system– Plumbing fixtures

• Benefits:– Bio-filtration/water recycling system reduced non-

potable water consumption 338 Mgal/year (68% reduction)

– Reduced 7% of Agency non-potable water annually

– Improved water quality and met MDEQ permit– Plumbing fixtures saved 415,000 gallons/year

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Construction Phase Challenges

• The researchers replaced all of their tanks without telling anyone– ESCO sent a change order proposal

• The recirculation system designer was late getting under contract. Completion of the water conservation ECM was delayed. – The ESCO wanted the government to pay for the

2nd tier sub’s delay.

• Water temperature went down so propane heat had to be added.

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Finished Product

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Finished Product

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Stuff Happens

• The researchers observed two problems:– The fish were getting gas bubble disease from the

dissolved Nitrogen in the deep well water. • The existing CO2 stripper didn’t reduce Nitrogen• Need a degassing tower

– The fish tanks were building up pathogens from fish and eggs brought in from ponds

• Disinfection methods were not effective enough.• Need to reduce the amount of flow-through tanks.

• Never got the final M&V report – But good interim report

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New Degassing Tower

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Thank You

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In the East they drink water and fight over whiskyIn the West they drink whisky and fight over water