Water Quality

Water consumption

Water is a shared natural resource that is critical to the production of electricity. We use water every day in a variety of ways to generate the reliable power our customers demand. These include:

• Creating steam to turn turbines and generate electricity in our fossil-fueled and nuclear plants
• Cooling the steam so we can recycle and use it again
• Controlling air emissions from power plants
• Providing potable water for human consumption and for sanitary purposes for employees
• Operating more than 3,400 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectric power facilities in the United States, two pumped storage hydroelectric facilities, and an additional 3,000 MW of hydroelectric power in Latin America.

Water conservation
We are the first company in Florida to build and operate more than 2,000 megawatts of generation using alternative water supplies. Our Hines Energy Complex uses treated wastewater from the town of Bartow, Fla., and a "water cropping" system to capture and re-use storm water.

• Since December 2002, we have partnered with Volusia County, Fla., to transfer wastewater from our DeBary Plant to the county’s reclaimed water system.
• We are the first company in Florida to build and operate more than 2,000 megawatts of generation using primarily alternative water supplies. Our Hines Energy Complex uses treated domestic wastewater from the town of Bartow, Fla., and uses a water-cropping system to capture and re-use storm water.
• We are the first utility to use the innovative ZENON ABMet bioreactor system as part of our wastewater treatment process. The bioreactor uses naturally occurring nontoxic and nonpathogenic microbes to remove metals from water after it has been used in our clean-air equipment. The bioreactor is currently installed at our Allens, Belews Creek, Mayo and Roxboro and plants and is designed to remove 95 percent of selenium and 90 percent of mercury from the water it treats.
• In 2008, we implemented a number of water conservation measures in our downtown Raleigh, N.C., office buildings. These actions included converting about 500 sinks, toilets and urinals to low-flow devices. We also no longer irrigate our landscape with city water; instead, we use recycled water captured from the weekly mandatory tests of our fire pumps. Along with other actions, these measures save more than 2,300,000 gallons of water each year.
• The Duke Energy Center, our headquarters building located in Charlotte, NC, incorporates industry-shaping measures such as rainwater harvesting to provide irrigation for the campus and adjoining park. 26 million gallons per year of ground water and HVAC condensation are also reclaimed and treated to provide all make-up water for the tower's cooling system.

Lake Management

To protect our rivers and lakes in the Carolinas, Duke Energy has developed a comprehensive lake management plan.

Shoreline Management Plan

Learn more about Duke Energy’s efforts to protect the environment through the company’s Shoreline Management Plans for its river systems and lakes.

• Catawba-Wateree SMP
• Keowee SMP
• Jocassee SMP
• Lake Robinson
• Lake Tillery

Problem Aquatic Wildlife

Caring for the natural environment means keeping non-native plants and animals under control. Learn more about recognizing and controlling them.

Catawba River Basin

The Catawba River is a major environmental asset in the Duke Energy service area. Here’s what Duke Energy is doing to help protect it.

Mosquito Control

This program helps control nuisance populations of lake-breeding mosquitoes in the Catawba River Valley.

Cultural Resources

Learn more about Duke Energy’s commitment to preserving significant archaeological and historic sites along the Catawba-Wateree river system.

Stewardship

At Duke Energy, we show our commitment to stewardship in many ways.