Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.61
Liaison Greg Kozak
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Northwestern University
OP-26: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.86 / 5.00 Travis Hawks
Temp
sustainNU
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of water risk for the institution’s main campus:
High

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined)::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use 3,644,382 Gallons 4,016,633.37 Gallons

Potable water use::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 3,644,382 Gallons 4,016,633.37 Gallons

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users"::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 5,173 5,490
Number of residential employees 15 10
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 18,320 16,916
Full-time equivalent of employees 10,144 9,345
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 2,559 312

Gross floor area of building space::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 15,007,605.60 Square feet 13,621,749.45 Square feet

Area of vegetated grounds::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 122 Acres 125 Acres

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Sept. 1, 2015 Aug. 31, 2016
Baseline Year Sept. 1, 2012 Aug. 31, 2013

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:

We only have information regarding reused water going back to our FY 2013


Water recycled/reused on campus, performance year:
2,800,000 Gallons

Recycled/reused water withdrawn from off-campus sources, performance year:
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A brief description of any water recovery and reuse systems employed by the institution:

We have four rainwater harvesting systems on campus: three cisterns and one collection field. The cisterns range in size from 120 gallons to 12,000 gallons. The collection field captures rainwater after it perks into the ground through a storm trap. The water is then stored in a 12,000 tank and can be directed out for irrigation through pumps.


A brief description of any water metering and management systems employed by the institution:

All buildings have a water meter.


A brief description of any building retrofit practices employed by the institution, e.g. to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings:

Recently renovated residential buildings feature low-flow showerheads, toilets, and faucets. Some buildings also have automatic faucets. In 2013, the Associated Student Government Sustainability Committee gave away free low-flow showerheads to off-campus students to help them retrofit their own bathrooms.


A brief description of any policies or programs employed by the institution to replace appliances, equipment and systems with water-efficient alternatives:

Our washing machines in residence halls have been upgraded to efficient, Energy Star models that load from the front, to minimize needed water.


A brief description of any water-efficient landscape design practices employed by the institution (e.g. xeriscaping):

Drought tolerant and adaptable plants are used across campus. We're also testing a low-mow lawn by Harris Hall, which only needs to be mowed once per year and requires little watering. Some areas of campus use stone instead of grass, in conjunction with very drought tolerant plant species.


A brief description of any weather-informed irrigation technologies employed by the institution:

The University utilizes irrigation controllers which adjust water usage. The controllers are connected remotely to a central computer which collects weather data specific to our area and applies the information to the system. An ET (evapo- transpiration) calculation is downloaded automatically on a daily basis and adjusts the irrigation output for the areas watered. We also use sun clocks and rain meters to control our irrigation based on conditions.


A brief description of other water conservation and efficiency strategies employed by the institution:

Install Water-saving Devices in Campus Buildings
We aim to create infrastructure that reduces water waste. We’ve installed the following water-saving equipment on campus: Toilets, faucets, and showerheads fitted with low-water-flow fixtures. Toilets with dual low and high flush valves in newer buildings.
We closely monitor water use across campus, and any abnormalities are quickly investigated and remedied.

Irrigate Less
We have installed a myriad of technologies such as solar clocks, rain gauges, and moisture sensors that calculate air moisture to determine when it will rain to avoid wasting water, time, and energy. We diligently follow the City of Evanston’s irrigation restrictions on weekdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from May 15 to September 15. This restriction is in effect because plants do not absorb water efficiently, so the water evaporates and is wasted.

Monitor Stormwater and Runoff
Northwestern lakefill: As our campus is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, we're dedicated to doing our part to keep it clean and healthy. We focus particularly on stormwater collection and management to prevent harmful run-off. The use of synthetic fertilizer is kept to a minimum, and we frequently test soil and custom blend fertilizer that provides only the lacking nutrients. Conserving water and reducing storm runoff is another priority at Northwestern.

Water is recycled in creative ways through bioswales, green roofs, and daisy basins. Bioswales are landscaping mechanisms that use terracing to naturally draw water to specific locations. Northwestern has bioswales near the athletic fields and parking lots to move water to plants that need it. Green roofs, which minimize stormwater runoff, are found at the Wild Roots Garden on the Norris University Center South Lawn and at the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center. Daisy basins are fixtures unique to Northwestern that divert stormwater runoff. Though most of them are underground, some older daisy basins are visible above ground near Norris University Center.


The website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.