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Water

Introduction

Water conservation, recycling and reuse, and effective rainwater management practices are important in maintaining and protecting finite groundwater supplies. Likewise, pumping, delivering, and treating water is a major driver of energy consumption, so institutions can help reduce energy use and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy generation by conserving water. Water conservation and effective rainwater and wastewater management also reduce the need for effluent discharge into local surface water supplies, which helps improve the health of local water ecosystems.

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Dr. Sherie Obare, Dean of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Dr. Sherie Obare, Dean of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

  • University of Florida (FL)
  • Marquette University (WI)
  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • North Carolina A&T State University (NC)
  • Appalachian State University (NC)
  • North Carolina State University (NC)
  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)

The Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center was established as a convergence of diverse and leading scientists to address the influx of phosphorus in oceans and expansion of ...

Princeton Builds Sustainability: As a policy, Princeton recycles at least 95% of its construction and demolition materials and aims to reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions in new construction projects such as the University Art Museum

Princeton Builds Sustainability

  • Princeton University (NJ)

Princeton recycles at least 95% of its materials in construction and demolition projects, while investing in water-saving and emissions-reducing technologies in and around its new buildings such as the construction ...

Agnes Scott College - Retention Pond / 'Lake Agnes'

Agnes Scott College - Retention Pond / 'Lake Agnes'

  • Agnes Scott College (GA)

Agnes Scott is committed to using no potable water for campus landscaping, capturing stormwater from the entire campus in a retention pond ('Lake Agnes') that is used for landscape watering ...

131st Opening Convocation Ceremony at Frost Amphitheater

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford broadened its stormwater management in 2018-19 with the addition of two pumping stations that will send runoff into the University’s non-potable irrigation water system, used for watering lawns ...

Stanford Arizona Garden

  • Stanford University (CA)

The garden, also known as the Cactus Garden, was designed for Jane and Leland Stanford by landscape architect Rudolf Ulrich between 1881 and 1883. The garden, also known as the ...

A group of Indigenous students at Mohawk College learned how to build a traditional birch bark canoe from a master canoe-maker in a two-week project. The canoe will used in public education to promote history and Indigenous peoples alongside the importance of clean water resources.

Mohawk College Birch Bark Canoe

  • Mohawk College (ON)

Master canoe-maker Chuck Commanda from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, a First Nations community in Quebec, has been teaching a group of Indigenous students at Mohawk College how to build a birch ...

Cascadia students working on berm restoration for our stormwater project in the campus wetland!

Cascadia College stormwater berm work

  • Cascadia College (WA)

Students working on a stormwater berm to catch and slow water entering our campus 58-acre restored wetland! The project is funded by King County Water Treatment Division. Students learn about ...

UIC (Top Performer in the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index)

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

Water

Carleton University - Top Performer 2022 SCI submission

  • Carleton University (ON)

Images showing water use, campus views and student wellbeing.

Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Hydrology and Water Resources (GCSC)

  • University of Utah (UT)

The amount, flux, and quality of water are central to nearly all issues of sustainability. The Hydrology and Water Resources certificate at the University of Utah integrates courses from five ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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LLM in Water and Environmental Law

  • University of the Pacific (CA)

The Program in Water and Environmental Law combines learning about natural resources science, technology and economics, with strong legal coursework and hands-on training. It offers a U.S. Law Track ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Graduate Certificate in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

  • Emory University (GA)

The Certificate in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) at the Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) is offered through the Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University (CGSW) and ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Civil Engineering MS, Water Resources Engineering Track

  • University of Central Florida (FL)

The Water Resources Engineering track in the Civil Engineering MS program reflects the very broad nature of the field, which encompasses the design, construction, and enhancement of the sustainable infrastructure ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Water Plan

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)

Sustaining water quantity and quality for people and the environment is a growing challenge. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to working to ensure clean water ...

Water–energy–carbon nexus at campus scale: Case of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power

  • North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power
  • Nanjing University

Clarifying the nexus between water, energy, and carbon has great importance regarding regional sustainable development. A university campus is a multifunctional comprehensive community attribute suitable for exploring campus–scale water ...

Improving Laboratory Water and Energy Efficiency at Tufts University

  • Tufts University (MA)

The Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) Departments at Tufts University installed a small autoclave (a laboratory sanitation machine) to reduce energy and water consumption in our ...

Water conservation potential within higher education institutions: lessons from a Brazilian university

  • Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, UFCG
  • Universidade de Pernambuco

This study seeks to analyze water consumption and promote water conservation measures in universities through a case study conducted at the University of Pernambuco, Brazil. The methodology consisted of collecting ...

Queens College students using water bottle filling stations

Queens College Is Reducing Plastic Water Bottle Use

  • City University of New York, Queens College (NY)

As part of our college's efforts to reduce single-use plastics on campus, our ongoing sustainability initiative includes the removal of older water fountains and installation of water bottle filling ...

Team PreciPITTation: Addressing Our Urban Campus Stormwater Needs

  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)

The University of Pittsburgh Oakland Campus (Pitt) offers a diverse urban terrain ideal for the planning and implementation of sustainable stormwater management practices. Without such planning our campus will continue ...

  • Posted March 10, 2022
  • Publications
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U.S. & Canadian "Climate Havens" - Networking & Preparedness Around Where It Will Suck Less

  • University at Buffalo (NY)
  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)

Water is Life. The Great Lakes Region, the U.S. and Canada, are becoming known as future "Climate Havens" of this century. Cities and universities are beginning to take notice ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Not Just an Efficient Toilet: Shifting from Water Management to Water Stewardship

  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
  • Alliance for Water Stewardship

Universities have employed traditional water efficiency strategies effectively. But what if your institution's water is sourced from communities adversely impacted by water withdrawals? Or if rainfall on your campus ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Using Research to Improve Water Sustainability at Weber State University

  • Weber State University (UT)

Our student session will focus on undergraduate research done in Ogden, Utah at Weber State University. This research investigates attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards water and water use held by ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Findensers and Floods: A Pilot Study on Reducing Campus Laboratory Water Use

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Hey, there's water all over!' a department director recalled exclaiming when he discovered the chemistry building's most-recent flood. Floods occur periodically in buildings at the University of Wisconsin ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Data-Driven Campus Energy Management: the ENERGY STAR Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative

  • Kentucky Community and Technical College System Office (KY)
  • University of Chicago (IL)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

This webinar will dive into the inaugural round of the ENERGY STAR Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative, or HEBI. Nearly 200 campuses representing nearly 100 institutions in the United States and ...

  • Posted Nov. 9, 2021
  • Videos & Webinars
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Water Action Plan

  • California State University, Long Beach (CA)

CSULB is committed to sustainability in all operations including the use of natural resources such as water. The campus aims to reduce water use as much as possible and use ...

Macalester student volunteers stencil signs near storm drains in Saint Paul, Minn. to raise awareness about runoff pollution in the Mississippi River.

Drains on the System

  • Macalester College (MN)

Macalester student volunteers stencil signs near storm drains in Saint Paul, Minn. to raise awareness about runoff pollution in the Mississippi River. This event was a collaboration between the Civic ...

  • Posted Sept. 20, 2021
  • Photographs
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FGCU4

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

FGCU photos for 2021 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI)

SUNY ESF is committed to developing creative, effective solutions that address sustainability challenges and adopting holistic practices and approaches that balance environmental, social, economic, and technological factors. This commitment starts with practicing what we teach by exemplifying systems and best practices that improve sustainability on campus.

SUNY ESF Photos

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

SUNY ESF is committed to developing creative, effective solutions that address sustainability challenges and adopting holistic practices and approaches that balance environmental, social, economic, and technological factors. This commitment starts ...

A rain barrel and rain garden outside of McCabe Hall at American University.

Water Management at American University

  • American University (DC)

Submission for SCI 2021. Top performer in the "Water" area.

Wetland ecology students at Sterling College visit all the major wetland types occurring in Vermont. At the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge they learn about managing wetland habitat for migratory birds and other organisms.

Sterling College: Wetland Ecology

  • Sterling College (VT) (VT)

Wetland ecology students at Sterling College visit all the major wetland types occurring in Vermont. At the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge they learn about managing wetland habitat for migratory birds ...

At dusk, The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Institute of Technology

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)

The Kendeda Building - The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Institute of Technology is the first building in Georgia to earn Living Building Challenge certification. The Kendeda Building ...

Assessing water literacy at a primarily undergraduate university in Ohio

  • Malone College (OH)

As the impacts of water quality on human health become better understood, universities have an opportunity to equip students to become more informed and responsible citizens. We define water literacy ...

SOSTAUGA project: reduction of water consumption and evaluation of potential uses for endogenous resources

  • University of A Coruña (a Coruña)

The University of A Coruña (UDC) elaborated the SOSTAUGA project, aiming to reach a higher sustainable level of its water management. SOSTAUGA defined four priority points of action: the restoration ...

Ecological Restoration of Parking Lot O looking south.

Ecological Restoration on BCIT Burnaby Campus

  • British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)

The ecological restoration of Parking Lot O on the BCIT Burnaby campus is well under way. What was a gravel parking lot is being transformed into a landscaped natural area ...

  • Posted April 30, 2021
  • Photographs
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Bowie State volunteers begin the journey to the clean up at local Horsepen Park

Bowie State University Stream Clean Up: Two distinct generations come together to help Mother Earth

  • Bowie State University (MD)

Through a partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Bowie State University invited nearby Collington Retirement Community to join together for an Earth Day stream clean up event in ...

  • Posted April 30, 2021
  • Photographs
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Newly added plants from the OSU-Cascades soil erosion service project.

Soil Erosion Service Project

  • Oregon State University-Cascades Campus (OR)

Students, staff, and faculty at the OSU-Cascades participated in an erosion control service project lead by OSU-Cascades Sustainability Program on a construction site on Oregon State University's campus in ...

  • Posted April 29, 2021
  • Photographs
  • View more

University Stormwater Management within Urban Environmental Regulatory Regimes: Barriers to Progressivity or Opportunities to Innovate?

  • Monash University (VIC)
  • The Nature Conservancy (VA)
  • University of California, Irvine (CA)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
  • University of California, San Diego (CA)
  • University of Louisville (KY)
  • Virginia Tech (VA)

U.S. public university campuses are held directly responsible for compliance with many of the same federal- and state-level environmental regulations as cities, including stormwater management. While operating as ‘cities ...

  • Posted Feb. 10, 2021
  • Publications
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Decontamination of Wastewater Using Activated Biochar from Agricultural Waste: A Practical Experiment for Environmental Sciences Students

  • Universidad de Córdoba

Safe and high-quality water is essential from both the health and environmental perspectives. Water quality is so important that the United Nations has included water in the 17 Sustainable Development ...

Teaching Sustainability via the Environmental Humanities: Studying Water, Studying Ourselves

  • College of Charleston (SC)

The dawning anthropocene requires innovation and organizational change across all types of institutions, including in higher education. One area where innovation can occur is in curricula building, and the offering ...

Water Resources Minor

  • Montana State University (MT)

The Montana State University Water Resources Minor is designed to encourage students from any discipline to explore water resources beyond course work in their major. As a result, the minor ...

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Sustainable Water Resources Minor

  • San Jose State University (CA)

The minor in Sustainble Water Resources is offered by the Department of Environmental Studies. The minor requires a minimum of 21 units across courses in water resource management, water policy ...

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Two of the students that did all the amazing work in the class (Erin Ganzke and Christopher Dwyer: not pictured Hannah Burby, Spencer Charczuk, Megan Weller, and Kate Markiewicz).

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Alliance for Water Stewardship Partnership

  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has partnered with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to develop the first curricular program in the nation dedicated to training students in professional water stewardship planning ...

Central New Mexico Community College, Main Campus Detention Basin #SCI2020

Central New Mexico Community College, Main Campus Detention Basin

  • Central New Mexico Community College (NM)

Photos # 1 & 2 Description: This detention basin slows and filters stormwater that drains from a large parking lot located at CNM Main Campus, near University Avenue. It also supplies ...

Hydration stations are featured in all Tennessee Tech buildings and many outdoor areas on campus to help students stay hydrated and reduce plastic pollution in our watershed.

Tennessee Tech's Hydration Stations

  • Tennessee Technological University (TN)

Hydration or bottle-refill stations are installed at both indoor and outdoor areas on Tennessee Tech’s campus which allow students to refill their water bottles and monitor plastic water bottle ...

The Tennessee Tech intramural facility features pervious pavement and an underground stormwater management system below the volleyball court.

Tennessee Tech’s Sustainable Intramural Pavilion

  • Tennessee Technological University (TN)

The Tennessee Tech intramural facility features pervious pavement and an underground drainage system below the volleyball court. The pervious pavement allows rainwater to flow through it and deposit into a ...

UMN Duluth students tour one of campus' rain gardens which provide pollinator habitat and treat stormwater.

University of Minnesota, Duluth - Pollinator Pledge

  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)

Three students -- Rachel Hopwood, Michael Purtell, and Dave Herrera -- pioneered the passing of an operational policy that protects the University of Minnesota Duluth's campus pollinators in perpetuity. Referred to ...

CSU Monterey Bay Residential Hall Laundry to Landscape System - Interior

CSU Monterey Bay - Laundry to Landscape

  • California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)

CSU Monterey Bay implemented a pilot laundry to landscape project that is connected to 8 washing machines. The greywater is filtered and then distributed to adjacent landscaping. The project was ...

RVCC students enjoy the two-story living wall in the student center. Captured rainwater feeds the living wall and the building's toilets.

Raritan Valley Community College Living Wall

  • Raritan Valley Community College (NJ)

RVCC students enjoy the two-story living wall in the student center. Captured rainwater feeds the living wall and the building's toilets.

Cal State East Bay Embraces System-wide Single-use Plastics Policy

  • California State University, East Bay (CA)

The California State University system passed a new system-wide policy in 2019 that applies to all 23 CSU campuses in banning the institutional purchase of all single-use plastics. Plastic straws ...

Concordia Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems

  • Concordia University (QC)

The Concordia Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems (CIWESS) trains students to be at the forefront of sustainable development practices. It promotes research into new systems, technologies and solutions ...

  • Posted Sept. 22, 2020
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

OP 21: Water Use

OP 22: Rainwater Management

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Water Partners

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