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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Emory University's WaterHub: Using Water Reclamation to Shrink an Institution's Water Footprint
- Emory University (GA)
Emory University is proud to house on its campus the first WaterHub in the country, a unique, ecologically based water reclamation system. Over three years in the making, the facility …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lessons from Germany to the US 2: Water
- Grinnell College (IA)
Despite the economic and social costs of frequent flooding in Iowa, stormwater handling and agricultural runoff are perennial problems, while in Germany, rainwater infiltration systems are required in most cities. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Stormwater Runoff Management and Green Infrastructure on Loyola University Chicago
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
Stormwater runoff is a major problem all cities face. The Stormwater Runoff Management Project is a student-led project working with campus sustainability staff who's goal is to reduce the amount …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Look Here exhibition - at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MN)
This exhibition spotlights seven Minnesota artists and designers working to change people's perception and understanding of our impact on the natural world. A focal point of this show is the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Researching Water Issues in First Year Composition: A Multi-Perspectives Approach
- Sinclair Community College (OH)
According to the United Nations, 'every year millions of people are severely affected by poor water quality, scarcity and floods. Several billion lack access to safe drinking water and improved …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Excuses: Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus (2014)
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Over 90 universities across the US and Canada have enacted a policy of responsible water sales in their purchasing. They have each banned the sale of bottled water at their …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Catchment systems through collaboration: A strategic framework
- Oregon State University (OR)
In Corvallis, Oregon, home of Oregon State University (OSU), the majority of rain falls between November and April, with significantly less falling in the summer months. Thousands of gallons of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Water Collection and Filtration of Garage Contaminants
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Students for Sustainability’s (SfS) Water Committee, a program of Associated Students of the University of Arizona, focuses on water conservation and education on water related issues at the University of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Georgia Tech: Leading the Way to Sustainability Through Comprehensive Water Management (2014)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Universities regularly implement advanced strategies to decrease and optimize energy and water usage. In a region riddled with issues, such as drought, legal disputes over water supply, and EPA consent …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Georgia Tech’s Stormwater Master Plan - Educational Overlay
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
In an effort to use the campus as a living learning laboratory, Georgia Tech is now developing an Educational overlay to the Stormwater Master Plan. This overlay intends to supplement …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Water Action Plan - How to achieve real water savings
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
The University of California (UC) has committed to reducing their per capita potable water use by 20% by 2020. All UC Campuses are writing water action plans that outline strategies …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sponsored Theater Presentation: Elkay
- ELKAY (IL)
Elkay, a name known for pioneering the most innovative clean water delivery methods, will showcase its latest technology in Water Bottle Filling Stations. Looking to offer a more sustainable solution …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Incorporating Reuse Water and On-Site Storm Water Management
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
As a major regional university located in the southeast, this presentation will focus on sustainable techniques used to address both drought and storm water management issues. Be it climate change …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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We’re gonna get hydrated! Shrinking bottled water use (without a ban)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
While students on some campuses work to ban (or to fight bans on) bottled water, positive partnerships at the University of Minnesota Duluth provided infrastructure, education, and social-norming around the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Comprehensive Campus-wide Water Management Plan
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
As a campus, we are committed to sustainable growth in order to improve the human condition. Sustainable water management has become a critical issue for the region, which has struggled …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Water Conservation and Pollution Mitigation at the Source: A Cooperative Town-Gown & Private Sector Mission for a Sustainable Future
- Appalachian State University (NC)
With less than one percent of accessible freshwater on Earth available for drinking water, there is a critical need to conserve and recycle water. In addition, municipal water and wastewater …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Campus Landscape: Turning Site Problems into Green Infrastructure Solutions
- South Dakota State University (SD)
In the fall of 2012 our faculty and student design team submitted a plan for the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Rainworks Challenge. Teams were invited to create an …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How Low Can You Go? UF Sorority Water Challenge
- University of Florida (FL)
This spring, 13 sororities at the University of Florida competed to reduce water use in their houses. The competition aimed to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Harnessing Seawater: A Sustainable Solution for Thermal Comfort
- Southern Maine Community College (ME)
The installation of an innovative sea water heat exchange system in Casco Bay is an example of sustainable technology recently implemented during the renovation of the Lighthouse Building at Southern …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using Partnerships to Forward Campus Sustainability Through Student Green Funds and Innovative Restoration
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Looking to create a sustainability fund on your campus, but need a little help? Learn how one university partnered with a non-profit foundation to launch a successful campaign to pass …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Flexible Urban Water Systems for the Adaptation of Campuses to Future Change Pressures
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
Water systems for new campuses or the major extension of existing campuses are designed for long operational life span of up to 50 years. However local change drivers such as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using History to Build the Sustainable Campus of the Future: Three Case Studies on the Waterways of Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Creating a campus-wide commitment to sustainability begins with cultivating a sense of place. As campus communities learn to value their places, their landscapes, and neighborhoods, they build dedication to preservation, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Learning Environment With Storm Water Management
- Delta College (MI)
Utilizing the physical campus environment can create an engaging experience for teaching and learning and can serve as an invitation for community partnership and participation. With Federal government placing more …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Managing a Global Resource: Campus Water Management Practices
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is located approximately 2 miles from Lake Michigan, one of the six Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering Sustainable Behaviour Through Energy and Water Reduction Competitions: Best Practices from Campus Conservation Nationals 2012
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
- Elon University (NC)
- Atrius (CA)
During fall of 2010 and spring of 2012 hundreds of colleges and universities participated in Campus Conservation Nationals, an electricity and water use reduction competition in residential housing. The goals …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Banning Bottled Water on the College Campus; Beyond Excuses
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
This paper examines case studies of three very different universities across the US and Canada, all of whom have enacted a policy of responsible water management in their purchasing. They …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Site Initiatives: Incorporating Reuse Water and On-Site Storm Water Management Techniques
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
As a major regional university located in the southeast, this presentation will focus on sustainable techniques used to address both drought and storm water management issues. Be it climate change …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Coca-Cola and Colorado State University: Model of a Sustainable Partnership
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Coca-Cola (GA)
This session's objective is to describe and inspire opportunities for corporate-academic partnerships in environmental sustainability. The session is motivated with specific examples of partners leveraging their abilities in collaborative research, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Water, Waste and Landscaping:How Old Dominion University Facilities Management Manages and Practices Sustainability
- Old Dominion University (VA)
The main goal for my presentation is to share information with attendees on how Old Dominion University Facilities Management manages water, waste and landscaping into our sustainability efforts. ODU made …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Water Consumption in Two Kentucky Higher Education Communities
- Hopkinsville Community College (KY)
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Concern about the environmental and economic implications of bottled water motivated a multi-method study on two college campuses in Kentucky: Western Kentucky University and Hopkinsville Community College. Survey and interview …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Making Every Drop Count - Impact of Irrigation Retrofit at the U of Minnesota
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
In the spring and summer of 2012 our university is conducting a joint applied research project with The Toro Company to evaluate the impact of optimizing irrigation control systems and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UCSB Water Action Plan
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
Water use and water shortages have the ability to create economic, social, and political conflicts. Over much of California, water management issues are magnified by the state's growing population and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Residence Hall Water Battle Competition
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
Water and energy are intertwined- energy is used to extract and convey water to end-users and water is essential during different stages of energy production. Students involved in our multi-campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Drought Conditions in Texas and Oklahoma: Rethinking University Water Consumption
- Texas Tech University (TX)
The La Niña weather pattern has caused severe drought conditions in Oklahoma and Texas, especially in West Texas since late 2010. As a result, communities as well as universities have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Teach the Tap
- Portland State University (OR)
Safe drinking water is the core resource for all civilizations -- without it cities cannot thrive. We take this for granted when talking about sustainability and it is rarely discussed. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cooling Tower Wastewater Recycling with Smart Integrated Membrane Systems
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
The feasibility of reclaiming potable-quality water from the UCLA Co-Generation (CoGen) plant cooling tower blowdown wastewater was evaluated using a novel integrated ultrafiltration (UF)/Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane system in order …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Infrastructure at the University of Louisville
- University of Louisville (KY)
On August 4, 2009 a storm hit the University of Louisville with 7" of rain in 30 minutes. Although not located on a stream or river, flooding damage exceeded $22 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A New Sustainable Method for Filtering Storm Water Runoff
- University of California, Riverside (CA)
Storm water runoff is a major source of surface water contamination that contains oil and sediment. Conventional filters create waste because they cannot be recycled and have to be thrown …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Estimating the energy and greenhouse gas emissions embedded in metered water at the University of Arizona
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Located in the center of the Tucson metropolitan area, the University of Arizona obtains its water from a system of on-site wells and a municipal water system that includes significant …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Water Management Planning at Universities
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
As bulk consumers of water, universities can have a significant impact on their community's water resources. One particular public university in Virginia consumes over one million gallons of potable water …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Water Action Plan: Water Footprinting at Higher Education Institutions
- George Washington University (DC)
Universities are increasingly well versed in the measurement and tracking of their carbon emissions. While it is important for institutions to continue to tackle global climate change, water scarcity is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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From Acid Rain to Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling: Student Benefits of Community-based Learning
- Dickinson College (PA)
A co-curricular, service learning program (CCSLP), housed in the Environmental Studies Department at a small liberal arts college, promotes a national model for college-community partnerships by 1) building and enhancing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Organizing Campuses to Think Outside the Bottle
- American University (DC)
- Edison Energy (CA)
At a time when the global water crisis is looming large, leaving over a billion people without access to enough safe drinking water to meet their basic needs, students are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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EcoCommons establishes Ecological Performance for entire campus, provides distinctive sense of identify, place, sustainability
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
In the higher education arena, our institute has one of the most advanced and forward-thinking sets of building standards for environmental stewardship, sustainable design, and energy management. Strategically, sustainability is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Just Tap It: Reducing Bottled Water Consumption through Curricular / Co-Curricular Partnerships
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
We present a case study of a student-driven initiative to promote sustainability on a small liberal arts campus by reducing bottled water sales. In Spring 2008, students in "Environmental Communication"" …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fracking with Higher Education: Student Activism and Mobilization in the National and Local Context
- New York University (NY)
What does the modern student movement look like on today's college campuses? How do they mobilize, communicate, and orchestrate their action? What are their tactics? Sit-ins? Boycotts? Petitions? Facebook and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Embodied Energy of Water
- Organica Water (NJ)
Too often energy conservation and water conservation are separated as two very distinct and separate issues. The reality of it is that they are both very much interdependent. Energy is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Environmental Impact and the Water Hurdle
- Organica Water (NJ)
There is a vision and a movement toward buildings with zero environmental impact. It can be said, that the only building that truly doesn't have an impact on the environment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus is Not Impossible
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
This panel would consist of three representatives from very different universities across the US and Canada, all of whom have banned the sale of bottled water at their institution. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Would You Like Crabs With That? A Complex Systems Simulation of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
- University of Virginia (VA)
Over the past two years an interdisciplinary group of faculty from a major research university has designed and built a web-based multiplayer simulation game of the Chesapeake Bay watershed with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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
- Level of Physical Risk Quantity (World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas)
- Potable water use per weighted campus user, performance year
- Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline
- Potable water use per unit of floor area, performance year
- Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline
- Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds, performance year
- Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline
- Water-related behavior change initiatives
- Water recovery and reuse initiatives
- Initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives
- Website URL - Water conservation and efficiency efforts
OP 22: Rainwater Management
- Green infrastructure and LID practices
- Rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines(upload)
- Rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines (description)
- Website URL- Green infrastructure and LID practices
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.