Water-Energy Nexus

The interconnections between water and energy have been coined the “water–energy nexus.” Large volumes of water are required to generate energy - to power turbines in hydro-electric facilities, for cooling in thermal or nuclear energy plants, and to extract oil from tar sands. At the same time, large amounts of energy are required to pump, treat, heat and distribute water for urban, industrial and agricultural use and to collect and treat the resulting wastewater. Together, the two sides of the water-energy nexus are generating new research, policy proposals and public dialogue as society struggles to address the intersecting challenges of climate change, energy security and increasing water scarcity.

A recently completed POLIS study, Greenhouse Gas and Energy Co-benefits of Water Conservation, the first of its kind in Canada, suggests a significant untapped opportunity exists for water conservation to reduce energy, save municipal dollars and mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.