| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.13 |
| Liaison | John Alejandro |
| Submission Date | March 24, 2021 |
University of San Diego
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.00 / 6.00 |
Trey
McDonald Director of Sustainability and Energy Manager Sustainability |
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 | 89,206,697 Gallons | 107,329,043 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 89,206,697 Gallons | 107,329,043 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2009 | June 1, 2010 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The baseline water consumption year is consistent with our Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2016.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,641 | 2,543 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 20 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,328 | 6,897 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 2,116.40 | 1,737 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 377.70 | 122.30 |
| Weighted campus users | 8,215.28 | 7,019.53 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 10,858.64 Gallons | 15,290.07 Gallons |
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 | 3,330,288 Gross square feet | 2,839,732 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 26.79 Gallons per square foot | 37.80 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 35 Acres | 35 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 2,548,762.77 Gallons per acre | 3,066,544.09 Gallons per acre |
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:
Being located in Southern California, the issues of water use and water-related behavior are very pertinent to USD. As part of the Eco-Resident Certification program, USD students living on campus are educated about water conservation, taught water conservation tips, and encouraged to introduce those behaviors into their daily lives.
In 2016, a student written and produced video was created to highlight savings projects. This video remains part of the outreach campaign to reduce water consumption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93GlE3IjBLg&feature=emb_logo
Finally, though it has not been quantified, a significant amount of lawn has been removed from campus and replaced with native and/or drought-tolerant plantings. This has led to a decrease in water consumed for irrigation.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Retrofits such as low-flow aerators on faucets, water efficient toilets, and low-flow shower-heads have been implemented throughout campus buildings to help realize water savings.
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:
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.