| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.26 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Jan. 17, 2024 |
McGill University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.97 / 4.00 |
Josh
Huizinga Energy Manager Facilities Management and Ancillary Services |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 1,521,000 Cubic meters | 1,900,000 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 1,521,000 Cubic meters | 1,900,000 Cubic meters |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The water use baseline was adopted in 2014 when the Ministry of Education required all postsecondary institutions to establish a water use baseline.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,981 | 3,122 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 32 | 15 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 22 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 31,511.40 | 31,755 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 7,779 | 6,979 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 447.60 | 32 |
| Weighted campus users | 29,907.35 | 29,810.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 50.86 Cubic meters | 1,900,000 Cubic meters |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 972,388 Gross square meters | 891,994 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 1.56 Cubic meters per square meter | 2.13 Cubic meters per square meter |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 12.45 Hectares | 12.45 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 122,168.67 Cubic meters per hectare | 152,610.44 Cubic meters per hectare |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
Water meters have been installed in all buildings on the downtown campus and on the main water inlets at the Macdonald campus, making the future collection of detailed data on our water consumption possible. The McGill design standards require the installation of WaterSense labelled low-flow fixtures to ensure water efficiency and performance. Accurate water consumption assessments will enable McGill to quantify the impact of water conservation initiatives, while Facilities Management and Ancillary Services works toward reducing the water use by mechanical equipment and other fixtures.
Once the university obtains meter readings from the City of Montreal, it will be possible to collect and analyze the data. McGill will use this data to inform and launch water consumption awareness campaigns in future.
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/sustainability/buildings
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
The university has two projects for implementing rain water harvesting in greenhouses.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
The university has installed low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as automatic faucets in many of the bathrooms on the downtown campus. Low-flow showerheads were also installed in the residences, which decreased water usage by an estimated 58,000L per day. Prior to new construction or major renovation projects, project teams must perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design that explores how to reduce potable water loads. They must also assess and estimate the project’s potential non-potable water supply sources and water demand volumes, including the following: indoor water demand; outdoor water demand; process, services, and equipment water demand, as applicable; and alternative supply sources for non-potable water.
See: https://www.mcgill.ca/buildings/files/buildings/mcgill_01_81_13_sustainable_design_requirements_9.pdf
The university has worked towards converting or removing single-pass water cooled equipment across the campus. From these projects, water consumption has been reduced by an estimated 302,700 cubic meters per year.
Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Water usage data for 2022 is based on historical data and was estimated by the Utilities and Energy Management Team. Updated data from the public utility will be available within the coming year (2023-2024).
The "area of vegetated grounds" includes:
- the Campus Planning and Development Office's calculation for the area of green space (6.37 ha)
- Macdonald Campus green space, which excludes farmland (6.08 ha).
- Total: 12.45 ha
Water usage data for 2022 is based on historical data and was estimated by the Utilities and Energy Management Team. Updated data from the public utility will be available within the coming year (2023-2024).
The "area of vegetated grounds" includes:
- the Campus Planning and Development Office's calculation for the area of green space (6.37 ha)
- Macdonald Campus green space, which excludes farmland (6.08 ha).
- Total: 12.45 ha
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.