Pikes Peak Community of Manitou Springs Improves Water Infrastructure

We are excited to work with Rentricity to complete this important project to make our treatment operation more energy efficient for our ratepayers in support of our community sustainability goals

The City of Manitou Springs, in partnership with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPA), has completed the installation of an in-pipe hydropower system developed by Rentricity Inc., of New York City. Rentricity’s Flow-to-Wire systems capture excess pressure and flow within gravity-fed water distribution pipelines, converting it into clean energy for the electric grid or to be used on the customer's site. The 75kW site is part of the raw untreated water flow from the Manitou Reservoir Watershed Area which is gravity-fed into the City’s main Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Manitou Springs.

With the use of Rentricity Flow-to-Wire system, specifically designed to handle flow ranges 500,000 to 3 million gallons a day, Manitou Springs hopes to recovery enough clean energy to offset two-thirds of the WTP’s annual electricity cost. The system is installed in a transparent manner to normal operations before the water goes through the process to remove suspended matter, add disinfection and deliver drinking water to the Mesa and Crystal Hill ground storage tanks high above the city for distribution to residences and businesses.

"We are excited to work with Rentricity to complete this important project to make our treatment operation more energy efficient for our ratepayers in support of our community sustainability goals” said Mayor John Graham. "With in-pipe hydropower we have another option to reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs," he added. Manitou Springs is dedicated to finding sustainable options for all government operations. The project start-up and energy savings was commenced this month. “The City is pleased to have access to funding support from CWRPA. This project fits well within their charter and provides us flexibility to meet our renewable goals” said Rebecca Davis, Director of Finance for the City.

Rentricity’s applications for in-pipe hydropower solution are numerous, making it a new energy savings option for new water pipeline projects and infrastructure upgrades. "As population and industries grow in the United States, more water will be piped to people, farm fields and industrial processors like mining operations." says Al Spinell, Rentricity's COO and Co-founder. "We need to embrace in-pipe hydropower as a consistent and predictable form of clean energy that can be harnessed to support emerging microgrids using solar, wind and thermal resources." he added. Rentricity is the sole source provider for safe drinking water NSF certified pumps-as-turbines for energy recovery applications in water infrastructure. The NSF 61 & 372 safe drinking water certified equipment is currently required in 48 states.

About Rentricity Inc.
Rentricity Inc. (http://www.rentricity.com) is the nation’s leader in producing clean, renewable energy from in-pipe hydropower applications in drinking water distribution systems, irrigation and industrial water systems. The Company, a graduate of NYC’s cleantech incubator, the Accelerator for a Clean & Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE), is based at 175 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013.

About Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs (http://www.manitouspringsgov.com) is a home rule municipality in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town was founded for its natural mineral springs and the downtown area continues to be of interest to travelers with the main road through the center of town being one of the direct paths to the base of Pikes Peak. Barr Trail, which winds its way up Pikes Peak, is accessible from town.