Incorporating a Hydro Plant into a Municipal Water System

by Richard T. Hunt, Chas. T. Main Inc, Hydropower &, Water Resources Projects, Charlotte, NC, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water for Resource Development

Abstract:

While recently reformulating water use strategy and policy in association with the development of a new water supply reservoir, a large North Carolina municipality was prompted to assess the feasibility of rehabilitating a retired hydropower facility. Prior to its retirement, this hydro plant had operated in combination with the water supply facilities at the old dam. According to the results of a feasibility study, rehabilitating two of the three retired units proved to be the optimum strategy. The total cost of this redevelopment was slightly more than 1. 5 million. With a bond interest rate of 10% and the most conservative rate structure anticipated for a power purchase contract, the benefit/cost ratio of this option exceeded 1. 50 and there was no negative cash flow, even in the first year of operation.

Subject Headings: Water supply systems | Municipal water | Hydro power | Feasibility studies | Water supply | Rehabilitation | Water policy

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