energy efficiency

Today, the amount of energy used in the water sector is almost equivalent to the entire energy demand of Australia. Most of this is in the form of electricity; in 2014 some 4% of global electricity consumption was used to extract, distribute and treat water and wastewater, along with 50 million tonnes of oil equivalent of thermal energy, mostly diesel used for irrigation pumps and gas in desalination plants. Over the period to 2040, the amount of energy used in the water sector is projected to more than double. The largest increase comes from desalination, followed by large-scale water transfer and increasing demand for wastewater treatment (and higher levels of treatment).