Water-Energy Nexus

Introduction
Water and energy are conventionally managed in isolation, with the result that synergies between these resources are rarely recognized, much less exploited. It is increasingly known that water service provision is energy intensive, while energy generation and distribution require significant water resources. Ongoing research at the Udall Center addresses the water-energy nexus from two basic perspectives.

Water and Energy Sustainability with Rapid Growth in the Arizona-Sonora Border Region. Research supported by the Arizona Water Institute assesses the energy implications of the full cycle of human water use in southern Arizona and the border region. Progress to date emphasizes the nexus for Tucson and Phoenix, with emerging results for Nogales, Sonora.

Goals and Activities
• Data collection on energy use for water services and mapping of major water and energy infrastructure
• Trend analysis of population growth, water and energy use in Arizona
• Outreach to binational organizations such as the Arizona-Mexico Commission

Contacts
Christopher Scott (Principal Investigator) – Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and Dept. of Geography ad Regional Development, University of Arizona, cascott@email.arizona.edu

Martin Pasqualetti (Co-PI) – School of Geographical Science, Arizona State University, pasqualetti@asu.edu

Status and Outputs (June 2009)
• Researchers met at the University of Arizona for concept and planning meeting (Jan, 2008)

• Presentations at the Binational Institute for Water and Renewable Energy Workshop (Feb, 2008)

• Collection of water and energy data from Tucson and Phoenix water utilities (July, 2008)

• Presentation at the Border Energy/Watergy Forum, Monterrey, Mexico (Oct, 2008)

• Interim project report delivered to Arizona Water Institute (Oct, 2008)

• Researcher-managers workshop, final project results at Arizona Water Institute (June, 2009)
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Hoover, J.H. and C.A. Scott. 2009. The Arizona Water-Energy Nexus: Electricity for Water and Wastewater Services. Presented at "Water, Energy, and Global Change" Session, Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, 22-27 March 2009.
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Scott, C.A., R.G. Varady, A. Browning-Aiken, T.W. Sprouse. 2007. Water and energy management challenges on the Arizona-Mexico border. In Proceedings of Southwest Hydrology and Arizona Hydrological Society Regional Water Symposium “Sustainable Water, Unlimited Growth, Quality of Life: Can We Have It All?” Tucson, Arizona, August 29 – September 1, 2007.

Scott, C.A., R.G. Varady, A. Browning-Aiken, T.W. Sprouse. 2007. Linking water and energy along the Arizona/Sonora border. Southwest Hydrology 6 (5): 26-27,31.

GROUNDWATER-ENERGY NEXUS IN AGRICULTURE

Groundwater irrigation accounts for up to a fifth of total electrical power consumption in part of northern and central Mexico, and upto a fifth in much of India, with very major implications for greenhouse gas emissions. Christopher Scott continues research in both locations initiated with the International Water Management Institute.

Goals and Activities
• Documentation of groundwater irrigation and aquifer sustainability.
• Estimates of electrical power consumption.
• Management and policy alternatives to capture the ‘virtuous cycle’ of the water-energy nexus (conservation, demand management, and regulatory instruments).

Contacts
Christopher Scott (Principal Investigator) –
Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and Dept. of Geography ad Regional Development,
University of Arizona,
cascott@email.arizona.edu

Outputs
(available on request from cascott@email.arizona.edu)
Scott, C.A., B.R. Sharma. Forthcoming. Energy supply and the expansion of groundwater irrigation in the Indus-Ganges basin. International Journal of River Basin Management.

Sinha, S., B.R. Sharma, C.A. Scott. 2006. Understanding and managing the water-energy nexus: moving beyond the energy debate. In B.R. Sharma, K.G. Villholth, and K.D. Sharma (eds.) Groundwater Research and Management: Integrating Science into Management Decisions. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp. 242-257.

Scott, C.A., T. Shah, S.J. Buechler, P. Silva-Ochoa. 2004. La fijación de precios y el suministro de energía para el manejo de la demanda de agua subterránea: enseñanzas de la agricultura mexicana. In C. Tortajada, R. Sandoval, E. Castelán (eds). Hacia una Gestión Integral del Agua en México: Retos y Alternativas. Porrua Editores, Mexico City, pp. 201-228.

Scott, C.A. and T. Shah. 2004. Groundwater overdraft reduction through agricultural energy policy: insights from India and Mexico. International Journal of Water Resources Development 20(2): 149-164.

Scott, C.A., H. El-Naser, R.E. Hagan, A. Hijazi. 2003. Facing water scarcity in Jordan: reuse, demand reduction, energy and transboundary approaches to assure future water supplies. Water International 28(2): 209-216.

Shah, T., C.A. Scott, A. Kishore, A. Sharma. 2003. Energy-irrigation nexus in South Asia: improving groundwater conservation and power sector viability. IWMI Research Report No. 70. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2008. Water and Energy Sustainability with Rapid Growth in the Arizona-Sonora Border Region (PI, C. Scott, PI, 50%). $50,000, Arizona Water Institute.

2007-08 Geospatial Analysis of Urban Thermal Gradients:
Application to Tucson, Arizona's Projected Water Demand (C. Scott, PI, 33%). $12,000, United States Geological Survey 104B administered by University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
See: www.dingo.sbs.arizona.edu/~cascott/urbanheat/

Pending - Research and Development at the Water-Energy Nexus: Integrated Impaired Water Utilization and Renewable Energy Generation (co-PI). Under development for submission to DOE, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Geological Survey, USEPA, NSF, Water Reuse Foundation, Water Research Foundation, Water Environment Research Foundation, or KAUST.