"Energy Efficiency in Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities” is a D-LeaP training module that answers to an ever-growing need in utilities everywhere. Currently, the Bulgarian Water Association is running this training. The first workshop was held early March. Part 2 is scheduled for June.

What drives energy consumption in water and wastewater infrastructure? How do you carry out an energy audit? How do you approach your task if you have to develop an energy-related investment plan? And how do you secure the necessary funds if you plan energy efficiency investments?

Answers, encouragement and inspiration are found in the training course  “Energy Efficiency in Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities”, offered by the Energy Efficiency Hubs of the Danube Learning Partnership, D-LeaP, and delivered by qualified trainers in local languages.

The theme is hot: High energy costs compromise the financially sustainable operation and general financial health of water supply and sanitation utilities, and/or the affordability of their services. 

The D-LeaP Energy Efficiency program supports participating utility companies in collecting, auditing and analyzing data related to their energy use and helps them to develop data-based investment programs aiming at energy cost reduction and increased energy efficiency, and to secure the financial resources to cover the related investments needs. 

The “Energy Efficiency in Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities” program has been developed in cooperation with Econoler as a Technical Partner for delivery by national D-LeaP Hubs in local language. The program runtime is six to nine months, and the content is delivered in a series of workshops and trainer-supported hands-on exercises at the participating utilities. 

The approach is learning-by-doing. Face-to-face training workshops provide the necessary tools and techniques, and applying those to the particular situation of individual utilities is the theme of on-the-job trainings that aim at developing concrete products like diagnostics, action plans etc. 

From 5 to 7 March, 15 attendees from twelve Bulgarian water supply and sewerage companies gathered for the kickoff workshop of this program, held by the Bulgarian Water Association in cooperation with a subsidiary of the Bulgarian WSS Holding – Energy Group, an electricity trader for the water supply and sewerage sector. Participants praised the rich and productive training experience and are looking forward to the next workshop in June.

We thank everybody involved for helping to make the sector better and wish the participants the deserved success. We also invite everybody to look into the D-LeaP training opportunities under www.d-leap.org. There you will find very viable shortcuts to improved company performance, improved services – and improved career perspectives.