Water Management
Using Water Resources Responsibly
We employ industry best practices to conserve and manage water supplies. We also continuously evaluate and monitor our systems and processes so the water we return to local waterways is safe and meets the discharge limits contained in our Clean Water Act permits.
CenterPoint Energy recognizes water-related issues are a growing global concern. We strive to use water in a responsible manner and minimize impact on local water supplies.
Guided by our internal Water Management Policy and in line with our commitment to sustainable operations, our water-related priorities include:
- Complying with environmental laws and regulations and working with regulatory agencies,
- Making water conservation and protection an important part of our planning and risk management processes,
- Continuously improving the water efficiency of our operations to conserve, recycle and reuse water,
- Considering water management and conservation technologies when building facilities to manage stormwater runoff and control water pollution where practicable,
- Reducing effluent concentrations in our water discharges by employing new technologies,
- Decreasing water use for power generation by 70% by 2035 by replacing our coal-fired power plants,
- Tracking and reporting water metrics through key performance indicators, such as water withdrawal, discharge and consumption,
- Communicating with government agencies and other stakeholder groups to encourage responsible regulations to protect water,
- Investigating and correcting water quality incidents related to our operations in an expeditious manner,
- Providing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for our employees, and
- Supporting community projects focused on ensuring a clean water supply.
In our Indiana electric utility operations, water is withdrawn from the Ohio River and groundwater sources to support our power plant operations in this water-rich region. The withdrawn water is mainly used for non-contact cooling water and potable needs, while recirculated water is used for ash transport and process water in the scrubbers. Water is discharged following any necessary treatment to meet regulatory requirements and minimize impacts. Most contact storm water is routed through the plants and treated prior to its discharge. Treatment can include an oily water separator, settling ponds and a physical-chemical treatment system that is optimized for mercury removal.
At the A.B. Brown facility, additional treatment removes copper from the circulating water blowdown that is discharged. This water is monitored regularly, as required by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. If water impacts are detected, the facility works with appropriate parties to determine the cause and implement corrective and preventive measures as quickly as possible.
- At the A.B. Brown facility, water withdrawal is calculated using circulating water flows, outside temperature, percentage of evaporation loss, cooling tower cycles and generating hours.
- At the F.B. Culley facility, water withdrawal is calculated using circulating temperature and flow data.
As CenterPoint Energy’s electric generation portfolio transitions over the next few years with the retirement of coal-fired generation, our water withdrawal and consumption is expected to decrease. In 2023, we plan to retire the A.B. Brown facility, which will reduce our water consumption by approximately 2,000 million gallons annually.
| Water | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Withdrawal | ||||
| Total Water Withdrawal (Millions of Gallons/Year) | 86,966 | 62,464 | 51,814 | 89,645 |
| Total Water Withdrawn (Cubic Meters) | 339,342,482 | |||
| Water Withdrawal by Source Breakdown | ||||
| Surface Water Withdrawal (Millions of Gallons/Year) | 86,420 | 61,958 | 51,363 | 89,121 |
| Groundwater (Millions of Gallons/Year) | 546 | 506 | 451 | 524 |
| Water Discharge (Non-consumptive) | ||||
| Total Water Discharge (Millions of Gallons/Year) | 84,575 | 60,154 | 48,074 | 86,957 |
| Water Withdrawal Consumption | ||||
| Total Water Consumption (Millions of Gallons/Year) | 2,391 | 2,311 | 3,740 | 2,688 |
| Total Water Consumed (Cubic Meters) | 10,173,938 | |||
| Water Withdrawals – Consumptive and Non-consumptive Rate | ||||
| Consumptive Rate (Millions of Gallons/Net MWh) | 0.000451 | 0.000499 | 0.000934 | 0.000433 |
| Non-consumptive Rate (Millions of Gallons/Net MWh) | 0.016 | 0.013 | 0.012 | 0.014 |