Sustainability of Lower Energy Costs by Utilization of Proper Pipeline Materials

The use of differing materials for distribution and transmission pipelines with equivalent outside diameters within water and waste water systems is many times deemed by the owners as an "apples to apples" comparison when evaluating the initial construction cost. The scope of this paper will focus upon the significant energy costs that are saved (or expended) over the life of the system as a result of the decisions made during the design and specifications stage of a project in determination of the pipeline material to be utilized. It will be shown that use of pipeline materials with larger inside diameters can save a utility virtually millions of dollars in energy costs over the life cycle of the pipe. Serving as a former lead executive for the nation's largest investor-owned water utility, I am intimately aware of the scrutiny of customers when it comes to supporting escalating operating costs of a utility. Construction projects are easier to identify and substantiate. This paper will find through use of present worth analysis that utilities are considering, or in many cases disregarding, the sustainability of energy operating costs within their utility by taking into account (or not) the inside diameter of pipeline materials utilized within their system. The decision by utility system owners to utilize the least expensive pipeline materials in construction projects may over time create very significant energy operating costs that can ultimately affect the sustainability components of the system. These escalating costs when not identified at the outset of project design will assimilate the boiled frog theory, incrementally rising each year unnoticed until potentially millions of dollars are being expended in energy costs over the years as a result of smaller inside diameter pipe.