Training for Tomorrow: a Watergy Workshop in Vietnam

Water efficiency is a big issue for water utilities these days – particularly in developing countries, where simply moving water from place to place can use up nearly 50% of a utility's budgets.

The Alliance's Watergy program tackles water efficiency through workshops that train local water utility managers in a number of water efficiency practices.

One such workshop was held this past March in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Training Workshop on Water and Energy Efficiency in Water Supply trained participants from four APEC economies eager to learn how energy efficiency measures could help them lower their budgets and improve distribution.

As one participant stated, "I am very interested in participating in this seminar workshop because in my utility in Pagadian City Water District, 35 to 37 percent of our operating expense goes to cost of energy."

Day 1: Technical and Managerial Training

First, the participants were introduced to the Watergy program, and the technical and managerial aspects of water and energy efficiency in water supply. They learned about energy auditing, energy management, energy accounting and measurement and verification, as well as financing options such as energy performance contracts and the Clean Development Mechanism.

During these interactive sessions, participants raised a number of practical issues they had encountered in their utilities and discussed possible solutions.

Day 2: Auditing a Water Utility

The second day of the workshop was held is held at Hanoi Water Works. Here, participants learned about the water utility's past and current work in energy efficiency.

An energy auditor showed the participants how to conduct an energy audit and the specific instruments needed for energy audits. Then the participants analyzed the data and discussed recommendations for efficiency improvements.

Positive Feedback

When the workshop finished, a number of participants expressed an interest in starting efficiency programs in their own utilities. A few days later, we learned that some of the participants had already put the lessons into practice.

One participant said in a follow-up email, "I'm already working with my team to immediately apply what I learned in the workshop". We are hoping more will follow suit and tap the tremendous opportunities that lies within energy efficiency in water systems.

For more information about Watergy, contact Alliance International Program Director Laura Van Wie (lvanwie@ase.org).