Mitigating Risks: How Microgrids Can Safeguard Water and Wastewater Facilities During Power Outages

Reliable power is essential for water and wastewater treatment facilities to function without disruption. Power outages, whether due to extreme weather, grid failures, or cyberattacks, can lead to service interruptions, environmental hazards, and public health risks.

Microgrids offer a practical solution to enhance energy resilience. They allow critical facilities to operate independently when the main grid fails. By integrating decentralized energy sources such as solar, wind, and battery storage, microgrids ensure a continuous power supply, helping facilities maintain operations during emergencies.

5 Challenges Water and Wastewater Facilities Face During Power Outages

Water and wastewater treatment facilities require constant electricity to run pumps, filtration systems, disinfection units, and monitoring technologies. Power disruptions—even for short periods—can have dangerous consequences, and they are more common than many realize. 

It’s not uncommon for electricity customers to experience an average of over eight hours of power interruptions. These outages can also cause significant operational and environmental issues.

• Service Interruptions

Without electricity, pumps stop working, affecting water supply and wastewater treatment. Prolonged outages can lead to water shortages and untreated wastewater discharge.

• Environmental Hazards

Power loss can cause sewage to overflow into local water bodies, contaminating rivers, lakes, and oceans. This disrupts ecosystems and creates long-term environmental damage.

• Public Health Risks

Water treatment plants remove contaminants that can cause disease. If power is lost, untreated or partially treated water could enter the distribution system, posing health risks.

• Financial Losses

Facilities relying on backup diesel generators face high fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and potential fines for environmental violations during outages.

• Grid Vulnerability

Many water plants depend on centralized power grids, which makes them susceptible to natural disasters, cyber threats, and aging infrastructure failures.

How Microgrids Can Improve Water Facility Resilience During Outages

Microgrids provide a decentralized and reliable energy solution by integrating multiple power sources that can function independently of the primary grid. These systems help water and wastewater plants enhance resilience and ensure uninterrupted service. Here are the key benefits of microgrids for water infrastructure:

• Continuous operations: Microgrids supply power even when the primary grid fails, preventing service disruptions and maintaining water supply.
• Energy independence: Facilities using microgrids rely less on centralized power providers, reducing vulnerability to grid failures and fuel shortages.
• Lower operating costs: Incorporating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind lowers electricity costs and minimizes dependence on expensive diesel generators.
• Environmental sustainability: By integrating clean energy, microgrids reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping water utilities meet sustainability goals.
• Scalability and flexibility: Microgrids can be tailored to the facility’s size and needs, allowing for future expansion and technological upgrades.
• Improved emergency preparedness: Microgrid facilities are better equipped to handle natural disasters, cyberattacks, and other unexpected events that cause grid failures.

Key Components of a Microgrid for Water and Wastewater Facilities

Microgrid systems are designed with several components that work together to provide a stable power supply:

• Battery energy storage systems: Batteries store excess energy, ensuring power availability even when solar or wind generation is low.
• Renewable energy sources: Wind turbines and solar structures generate clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• Backup generators: Diesel or natural gas generators serve as an additional safety net for emergency power supply.
• Advanced control systems: Smart microgrid controllers manage power distribution, optimizing efficiency and reliability.
• Grid connection capability: Microgrids can switch between grid-connected and islanded mode, depending on real-time power needs and grid stability.

5 Steps for Implementing a Microgrid in Water Facilities

Setting up a microgrid requires careful planning and investment. Here’s a step-by-step approach.

• Conduct an Energy Needs Assessment

Facilities must evaluate their power consumption and identify critical loads that require continuous power. A feasibility study helps determine the best microgrid configuration.

• Design an Optimized Microgrid System

Microgrid design should consider available renewable energy sources, storage capacity and backup generation needs. The system should be scalable for future expansion.

• Secure Funding and Regulatory Approvals

Many water utilities receive funding from federal, state or local programs that support energy resilience projects. Before installing a microgrid, facilities must also comply with local energy regulations.

• Integrate Smart Grid Technologies

Microgrid control systems use artificial intelligence to optimize energy distribution, ensuring reliability and efficiency.

• Perform Testing and Maintenance

Regular system testing and maintenance are essential to keep the microgrid functioning optimally. This includes monitoring battery performance, ensuring backup generators are operational, and updating software controls.

Strengthening Water Infrastructure With Microgrids

Microgrids provide an effective solution to mitigate the risks associated with power outages at water and wastewater facilities. Microgrids enhance energy resilience, reduce operational costs, and ensure a reliable water supply during emergencies by integrating renewable energy, battery storage, and advanced control systems.

As climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events and power grid vulnerabilities, adopting microgrid technology is a proactive step toward securing essential water infrastructure for the future. Investing in these decentralized energy systems ensures communities can access clean, safe water — regardless of grid disruptions.