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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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Three Zeros Environmental Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill: The Chancellor's Sustainability Charge

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
  • SmithGroup (MI)

The University of North Carolina (UNC) has set a new global standard for sustainability in higher education's constantly evolving environment. UNC is scaling its impact through the Three Zeros ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Shorter showers? There's an App for that!

  • University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
  • NORESCO (NC)

Over the past 6 years, UMass Dartmouth has been tracking student's shower times. This has ranged from self-reported times, to specifically supported timed studies to now the development of ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Water Resource Management Certificate

  • Green Mountain College (VT)

The Eco League Water Resources Management Certificate program trains students to meet the water crisis head on through an integrated, solution-oriented, hands-on program that takes advantage of regional perspectives and ...

  • Posted Oct. 15, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Science (BS)

  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's water science major includes instruction in water science, natural resources, biological and physical sciences and mathematics and statistics, as well as in the humanities, social ...

  • Posted Aug. 30, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Audit: Campus Housing Residence Halls Restrooms

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

This project was set to evaluate the student residence restrooms of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) East and West campuses and to provide viable solutions to any problems ...

  • Posted Aug. 29, 2018
  • Case Studies
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Campus bottled water bans, not always the solution

  • Allegheny College (PA)

The purpose of this study was to identify how to reduce bottled water use on our campus, given that the majority of students were bringing it onto campus from outside ...

Creating a water-saver self-identity reduces water use in residence halls

  • James Madison University (VA)
  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

Water scarcity is a pressing social problem. Attempts to increase conservation that focus on education or attitudes produce limited success. Installing efficient appliances reduces water use, but can be costly ...

UVA's Indirect Water Footprint

Indirect Water Footprint Illustration

  • University of Virginia (VA)

University of Virginia is the first institution to document an indirect/virtual water footprint for the water impact of products purchased by the institution. A recent study calculated the UVA ...

Photo of LMU reclaimed system that the city adapted for city wide use.

LMU Reclaimed Water System

  • Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Photo of LMU reclaimed system that the city adapted for city wide use.

Chef Nathan Fraza checks on the plants growing in the hydroponic growing room.

ZipGrow Towers at Missouri State University

  • Missouri State University (MO)

In summer 2016, a basement storage room at Missouri State University was repurposed into a hydroponic growing room for the ZipGrow vertical growing towers program. Chartwells and MSU Dining Services ...

MSU ZipGrow Tower full growth

  • Missouri State University (MO)

In summer 2016, a basement storage room at Missouri State University was repurposed into a hydroponic growing room for the ZipGrow vertical growing towers program. Chartwells and MSU Dining Services ...

Electricity and Water Conservation on College and University Campuses in Response to National Competitions among Dormitories: Quantifying Relationships between Behavior, Conservation Strategies and Psychological Metrics

  • New York University (NY)
  • Oberlin College (OH)

“Campus Conservation Nationals” (CCN) is a recurring, nation-wide electricity and water-use reduction competition among dormitories on college campuses. We conducted a two year empirical study of the competition’s effects ...

  • Posted June 29, 2018
  • Publications
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Wetland Ecology Minor

  • University of New Hampshire (NH)

The Department of Natural Resources & the Environment offers an interdisciplinary minor in wetland ecology. It is available to all students in biology, botany, environmental conservation, forestry, plant biology, environmental ...

  • Posted June 13, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Sustainable Choices

  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ)

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is a fast growing community college in a suburb of the Phoenix Metro area. As one of ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District ...

Making Climate Commitments into Climate Action

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

The Climate Action Implementation Plan (CAIP) is the sustainability action plan for the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The UIC Climate Commitments, announced in April 2016, form the basis ...

The WaterHub at Emory University – Engaging Campus & Community in Water Reclamation

  • Emory University (GA)

The WaterHub at Emory University is an on-site water recycling system, utilizing biomimicry, or engineered processes that emulate natural ecological systems, to reclaim wastewater for heating and cooling buildings and ...

Assessing the Energy and Water Use of Vertical Farming at Princeton University

  • Princeton University (NJ)

Research in sustainable solutions for harmful large-scale agriculture will help preserve the earth’s ecosystems and natural resources. Hydroponics is a method of farming that is shown to use considerably ...

Virtual Water as a Metric for Institutional Sustainability

  • University of Virginia (VA)

Carbon and nitrogen footprints are increasingly common metrics used to consider the environmental impacts of activities and consumption by institutions; an institutional water footprint complements these assessments by providing a ...

The ripple effect: Hydo-Aeorponics growing on campus

  • Missouri Southern State University (MO)
  • Chartwells Higher Education (NY)

In August of 2016 Missouri State University brought 2 zip grow towers( a Hydo-Aeorponics vertical grow tower system) to campus in partnership to display a hyper-local growing option for produce ...

Restoring our Lake

  • University at Buffalo (NY)

The North Shore of Lake LaSalle is currently a non-vegetated section of shoreline. Erosion has left steep slopes, exposed soil, and undercut shorelines. Beginning in late April of 2018 a ...

  • Posted April 25, 2018
  • Photographs
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ReThink the Drink student organization

Water Cage at Northeastern University

  • Northeastern University (MA)

Water cage demonstration created on campus quad. Filled large cage with water bottles and attached facts and data about plastic bottle usage around the outside of the cage. Very effective ...

  • Posted April 23, 2018
  • Photographs
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Water Resources Minor

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

The interdisciplinary minor in water resources is designed as a flexible program for undergraduate students to study and integrate principles of physical hydrology, geochemistry, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, natural resources ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Soils, Water & Environmental Science Minor

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

The SWES minor provides students with scientific tools and experience needed to inform practitioners and policymakers in the areas on environmental science, including but not limited to, industrial hygiene, ecology ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Science Minor

  • University of Saskatchewan (SK)

This program is designed to provide students with a strong and structured physical understanding of hydrological processes that affect the quantity and movement of surface and near-surface waters and the ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Resources Minor

  • Cornell University (NY)

The minor in water resources provides an opportunity for students in M. S. and Ph. D. degree programs to complement their major subject area with studies related to water resources ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Science & Management (MS)

  • New Mexico State University (NM)

We face serious challenges concerning the supply, development, quality, management, and administration of water resources; responses to the challenges will have major impacts on regional economy, environmental quality, and the ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Science & Management (PhD)

  • New Mexico State University (NM)

We face serious challenges concerning the supply, development, quality, management, and administration of water resources; responses to the challenges will have major impacts on regional economy, environmental quality, and the ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Environmental & Water Resource Economics (BS)

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

A degree in Environmental Water Resource and Economics (EWRE) prepares students to assume responsible positions in the management of the world's natural and human resources.

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water, Society & Policy (MS)

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

The WSP degree provides a multi-disciplinary exposure to human and environmental processes that affect water and watersheds. Students in this program gain understanding of the basic principles of hydrology, social ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Water Resources Certificate

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)

The Water Resources graduate certificate program at WPI offers a comprehensive set of graduate-level courses in a specialized area of environmental engineering to enhance students knowledgebase and increase marketability in ...

  • Posted April 12, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Using Energy and Water Reduction Competitions to Effect Tangible Change

  • AASHE (MA)
  • Atrius (CA)

This webinar provides a better understanding of how to coordinate campus energy and water reduction competitions. Learn how to facilitate an effective competition on campus to inspire behavioral change and ...

  • Posted April 3, 2018
  • Videos & Webinars
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Case Study: Using a Service-Learning Course to Reinforce the Three Pillars of Sustainability

  • University of Mississippi (MS)

Service-learning courses at the university level provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about sustainability. The senior and graduate level elective course Service-Learning for Water Treatment at the University ...

  • Posted March 9, 2018
  • Publications
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Sustainable Water Management

  • Tufts University (MA)

Launched by the Tufts Institute for the Environment, the one-year interdisciplinary master’s program offers four tracks, encompassing such areas as urban water infrastructure, the water-energy-food nexus, water diplomacy, and ...

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Visualization of energy and water consumption and GHG emissions: A case study of a Canadian University Campus

  • Carleton University (ON)

Campuses, communities, and other building clusters are major users of energy and water and thus can have a significant environmental impact. Frequently, their buildings’ resource consumption is metered to various ...

  • Posted Dec. 22, 2017
  • Publications
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Disruptive Tech: Beyond Net Zero Energy Onsite Water Reuse

  • Natural Systems Utilities (NJ)

In addition to water scarcity, drivers to consider water reuse now include aging or inadequate infrastructure, resiliency, resource recovery and increasing costs for conventional water and sewer. Many communities are ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Beyond Excuses: Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus

  • Eastern Washington University (WA)

Over 100 North American universities have enacted policies banning bottled water and promoting tap water as a more preferable choice. This workshop will outline the steps of banning bottled water ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Middlebury's conserved lands around the Bread Loaf campus provides a scenic backdrop for numerous activities

Middlebury College Land Conservation at Bread Loaf

  • Middlebury College (VT)

Middlebury's conserved lands around the Bread Loaf campus provides a scenic backdrop for numerous activities.

Cross country skiing is one of many uses of the lands conserved by Middlebury College

Middlebury's Bread Loaf Mountain Campus and Surrounding Conserved Lands

  • Middlebury College (VT)

Middlebury College's 2100 acres of conserved land is surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest land. Middlebury's conserved lands are enjoyed by participants of its summer programs at the ...

CV Theis Groundwater Observatory

CV Theis Groundwater Observatory

  • University of Cincinnati (OH)

The University of Cincinnati has completed the construction of the Great Miami Groundwater Observatory to continuously monitor water quality for over two million Ohio residents who rely on the Great ...

Angela Anima-Korang, a Southern Illinois University student and Sustainability Office Team member, uses one of the water bottle refill stations on campus.

Southern Illinois University water bottle fill stations

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)

With support from the campus green fund, Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently installed 27 water bottle fill stations in various buildings around campus in efforts to reduce consumption of single-use ...

Niagara College students participating in the World Water Monitoring Challenge, and event run by students to monitor water quality throughout campus

Niagara College Sustainability Engagement

  • Niagara College Canada (ON)

The following images depict various events and initiatives that take place at Niagara College that can be used towards students' Co-Curricular Records, and the LEAD Sustainability stream. These events include ...

Loyola's Water Conservation Efforts

Loyola Chicago's Water Conservation Carnival

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

As part of a water conservation grant, Loyola hosted a Water Conservation Carnival featuring the 97 year-old face of water conservation, Sr. Jean Schmidt. As part of the project, water ...

Loyola's Lake Shore Campus Chapel on the shores of Lake Michigan

Loyola's Lake Shore Campus Chapel on the shores of Lake Michigan

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

Loyola's Lake Shore Campus Chapel on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan

Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

LEED Silver Klarchek Information Commons. Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Community responses to the removal of bottled water on a university campus

Purpose

This paper aimed to examine the impact of the removal of bottled water on the campus community. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted at the first ...

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Introduction to Watershed Studies

Parks and Sustainability

  • Kent State University - Stark (OH)

Picture of a student in Kent State University at Stark's Introduction to Watershed Studies. This course was created through a park and campus partnership.

Tiny House Team

Kauai Community College Tiny House Hydro Electric Micro Grid Project

  • University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)

During the Summer of 2016 a free Tiny House building course was offered free to the community of Kauai. The course ran for five days and focused on building the ...

Welding Hydroelectric Raceway

Modern Sustainability

  • University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)

RECENT PROJECTS:

  • Beach Cleanup Caddy (complete - STEM grant award pending - awaiting field testing) - Assembled a cart system specifically designed for beach cleanups, outfitted with a detachable metal waste bin, wheel ...

Funding Strategies for Non-Traditional University MS4 Stormwater Programs

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
  • University of Michigan (MI)
  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
  • University of Virginia (VA)

Stormwater programs have historically been stymied by lack of proper funding resources. Unlike drinking water and sanitary sewer utility services that long ago transitioned to enterprise funds, a stormwater utility ...

Student Interns Auditing Plumbing Fixtures in Residences

Stanford University's R&DE Creatively Responds to the California Drought

  • Stanford University (CA)

Sustainability is a core value to Stanford University's Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE). R&DE is responsible for about 1/3 of Stanford's campus, housing over 13,000 residents ...

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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