George Washington University
IN-43: Water Balance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Mansi
Talwar Executive Director of Engineering, Utilities and Energy Department of Safety and Facilities |
Has the institution calculated a natural water balance for the campus to assess the sustainability of its water withdrawal?:
A brief description of the methodology used to calculate the campus water balance:
GW conducted a preliminary water balance exercise in July 2022. The Office of Sustainability worked with Coho Climate Advisors establish a baseline assessment to develop a water balance. Coho collaborated closely with the Energy, Utilities, and Engineering team to review historical water bill data, assess permeable and impermeable surfaces on campus, and catalog current stormwater capture and storage capacity in GW facilities. The water balance also included data and assumptions about the water demand of HVAC equipment in dozens of GW buildings. The water balance revealed that 39% of GW's potable water consumption was being directed toward non-potable functions, including irrigation, boilers, and chillers. An initial strategy is being developed in concert with pilot implementation work, emphasizing stormwater capture and reuse activities to offset municipal water demand while producing cost savings. The strategy will also account for distributed water infrastructure, space constraints inherent in an urban campus, and the interconnection of water and GHG emissions.
A brief description of how the institution’s water withdrawal compares to the natural water balance of the campus:
GW's typicall annual municipal water intake is about 224,000 kGals, and the estimated annaul stormwater resources are about 71,000 kGals.
Campus need includes irrigation (3,000 kGals), cooling (69,000 kGals), boilers (15,000 kGals), and potable ues (137,000 kGals).
Downstream water includes evaporation (69,000 kGals) and wastewater (155,000 kGals).
Website URL where information about the institution’s natural water balance is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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