For years, Facilities Management’s Utilities & Engineering explored ways to improve the groundwater well pumping system at Academic Surge. In September 2024, progress accelerated when Joel McCoy from Utilities partnered with Sam Cole and the Energy team and Nick Harden and the Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) team to design a smarter, more efficient solution. The result: a system that now saves thousands of dollars, millions of gallons of water, and provides more reliable service to a key research facility.

The goals were straightforward but impactful: save energy, conserve water, and reduce unnecessary costs. The project now saves an estimated 10,000 kWh of energy each year (roughly $1,000 in annual energy costs) while cutting water use by 18 million gallons per year, valued at nearly $38,000. In addition, by preventing excess water from being sent to the wastewater treatment plant, the campus saves another $8,300 annually in treatment costs.

The project launched in September 2024 and was completed by February 2025. It was a true collaboration between the Energy Conservation Office (ECO), Utilities’ Water & Gas team, and the I&C team. Previously, the system pumped water from the well at a constant rate, sending unused water straight down the drain, a process compared to “driving down the highway with your foot all the way on the gas pedal, then using the brakes to stay at the speed limit.” With the new system, upgraded controls allow the pump to adjust to the actual water needs of the facility, greatly reducing waste.

At the heart of the upgrade is a 2-horsepower variable frequency drive (VFD) with a bypass. For those less familiar with facilities systems, the VFD acts like a dimmer switch for the pump, allowing it to speed up or slow down based on demand. This provides greater flexibility with flow rates, adds new alarm features for monitoring, and prevents overuse of the system.

The savings are striking: about 50,000 gallons per day, or 18 million gallons each year. This small-scale upgrade also extends the life of the pump, which now runs at slower, less taxing speeds, improving reliability for critical systems that support aquaculture research at UC Davis.

The success of the Academic Surge project is already inspiring similar efforts. Utilities & Engineering, ECO, and research departments are now collaborating on a project at the Putah Creek Hatchery, which is expected to save even more water than Academic Surge. With a lifespan of 10–12 years, the current system will continue to provide lasting returns, both financially and environmentally.

This project is a prime example of how UC Davis’ commitment to sustainability and innovation translates into meaningful action, where even modest infrastructure improvements deliver enormous benefits for the campus community.

Photographed (L-R): Damodar Homagain, Scott Peuse, David Ingelsby