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Electricity used by municipal water and wastewater utilities often accounts for the largest share of a city’s energy budget and much of it is wasted because of inefficient pumping, leakages, and other system inefficiency. Globally, up to a quarter of electricity consumed bymunicipal water and wastewater utilities can be saved by actively managing energy use and investing in technically proven and financially attractive measures. The majority of municipal water and wastewater utilities in developing countries are publically owned and operated.
 

For developing country cities, investing in energy efficiency supports quicker and greater expansion of water access for the poor by making water supply systems cheaper to operate. The Energy Efficient Cities Initiative of ESMAP recently completed a briefing note, A Primer on Energy Efficiency for Municipal Water and Wastewater Utilities with the aim to help World Bank urban and energy staff engage client countries improve the consumption of electricity in water and wastewater utilities.
 

The briefing note is a quick read to gain a fast understanding of the basic issues and options on scaling up energy efficiency in cities and municipalities. The note provides a global perspective of energy use and efficiency in water supply and wastewater treatment. It summarizes experiences of promoting energy efficiency in water and wastewater utilities in municipalities and suggests potential actions for key stakeholders.