电力公用事业行业的放松管制和更严格的水质法规为水公用事业优化日常运营提供了激励和运营需求。水务公司明白，需要新的基于计算机的工具来降低基于可变能源价格表和水质的抽水和处理成本。美国水务协会研究基金会（AWWARF）预见到了这一需求，并开发了能源和水质管理系统（EWQMS）的概念。EWQMS利用软件和操作人员优化供水设施的运行。虽然AWWARF研究人员提出了一种行业范围内的协作方法，以降低EWQMS的成本，但它仍然代表着大量的时间和金钱投资。 水务公司在考虑EWQMS时应采取的第一步是评估有形和无形的潜在效益。这种分析也将有助于EWQMS功能需求的开发。本文提供了一种评估EWQMS效益的结构化方法。这是基于之前与全国大中型水务公司合作的成果。论文分为三个部分:能源管理；水质管理；以及运营计划和调度。包括2个参考文献、表格和图表。

Deregulation of the electric utility industry and more rigorous water quality regulations provide both an incentive and an operating need for water utilities to optimize daily operations. Water utilities understand that new computer-based tools are required to reduce the cost of pumping and treatment based on variable energy price schedules and quality of water. The American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF) anticipated this need and developed the concept of an Energy and Water Quality Management System (EWQMS). An EWQMS utilizes both software and operating staff to optimize water utility operations. Although an industry-wide collaborative approach was proposed by AWWARF researchers to reduce the cost of an EWQMS, it can still represent a significant investment of time and money. The first step a water utility should take when considering an EWQMS is to evaluate potential benefits, both tangible and intangible. Such an analysis will also assist in the development of the function requirements for an EWQMS. This paper provides a structured approach for the evaluation of EWQMS benefits. It is based on previous work with large and medium sized water utilities nationwide. The paper is divided into three parts: energy management; water quality management; and operations planning and scheduling. Includes 2 references, tables, figures.