Water Conservation

Water Use and Conservation

Many of the retrofit projects have focused on implementing low-flow water fixtures and upgrading the plumbing systems in general. 

Water Efficient Landscaping

As a general practice, our campus also practices water efficient landscaping by planting native species and other low-maintenance plant varieties that do not require significant water inputs. This practice is also extended to most turf areas on campus, as no-mow zones during summer eliminates much of the need to maintain traditional turf areas. The only time we water anything, it is to establish areas of new turf or other new plantings.

Water Chillers 

In concerns of conserving water, a significant portion of water consumption has to do with running chiller units to provide air conditioning to buildings during the summer months. Therefore, an effort to properly manage indoor temperatures has a significant impact on our overall water use. Proper maintenance of these chillers also ensures that fresh water is being used efficiently.

Dining Hall Initiatives

Industrial dishwashing equipment has been replaced with models that reduced water usage by 300 gallons per minute. Another way practice the campus participates in aim to conserve water is a trayless food service. The trayless food service was introduced several years ago and has since been adopted as campus policy. This has the added benefit of reducing food waste that might have been taken if someone has a tray to use to hold extra food they end up not eating.

Dual-Flush Toilets

Several newer campus buildings utilize dual-flush toilets to help reduce the water consumption of those fixtures. 

Water Filling Stations

We have installed several Elkay EZH20 Water Bottle Filling Stations around campus.  There are numerous benefits to providing a free source of filtered tap water to the campus community and these filling stations have become the new campus standard for water fountains and are gradually being phased in throughout many academic buildings and each residence hall as it is remodeled.