| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.92 |
| Liaison | Amy Brunvand |
| Submission Date | Sept. 12, 2023 |
University of Utah
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.00 / 6.00 |
Emerson
Andrews Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Manager Sustainability Office |
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 | 912,066,969 Gallons | 1,214,760,228 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 805,046,829.93 Gallons | 1,214,760,228 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2021 | June 30, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The 2010 baseline year was selected to maintain a consistent emission-inventory history between the performance year and the year we had previously submitted a STARS report.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,278 | 3,558 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 110 | 158 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 816 | 2,222 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 30,166 | 29,456 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 22,765 | 15,319 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,929 | 355 |
| Weighted campus users | 38,664.50 | 36,466 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 20,821.34 Gallons | 33,312.13 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 | 17,941,415 Gross square feet | 13,985,662 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 44.87 Gallons per square foot | 86.86 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 | 239 Acres | 212.12 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 3,816,179.79 Gallons per acre | 5,726,759.51 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:
Primary shifts have occurred around passive management (e.g. low flow) and through selective landscaping.
The University of Utah will respond to the mandates outlined in Utah House Bill 121.Section 1.3
(3) (a) A state agency shall reduce the state agency's outdoor water use as compared to the state agency's outdoor water use for fiscal year 2020:
(i) in an amount equal to or greater than 5% by the end of fiscal year 2023;
and
(ii) in an amount equal to or greater than 25% by the end of fiscal year
2026.
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0121.html
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Outside of a few, select gray water and water catchment systems, there is no comprehensive campus initiative.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Although not fully represented within the reporting period, largest impacts were recently made with to a campus-wide upgrade of the irrigation control system that better accounts for weather variation and soil needs.
Low flow toilets, sinks, and fixtures are pursued throughout the campus. Implementation of these upgrades is consistent for the majority of renovations and new construction. There have been some obstacles implementing these changes in the Health Sciences campus due to water line contamination concerns.
Significant work was also done to identify and repair leaks in the high temp system and changes in plant cooling towers resulted in significant 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:
SOURCES
Facilities Sustainability & Energy tracks water use of utility bills and well water over time. Water systems are associated with buildings along with their floor area, construction date, and demolition year to account for changes over time. The university purchases most water from Salt Lake City, but some irrigation water pulled from a well system on site.
NOTE: The University system also serves water to the Intermountain Healthcare Primary Children's Medical Center, which that area has been added as a part of the system boundary for this credit. That building area is not applicable to energy and campus boundaries
NOTE: University began tracking well pump non-potable water used for irrigation in 2013. In 2010 the University began gradually switching irrigation from 100% potable water from the Salt Lake City water system to non-potable well water. In addition to the progress made in system efficiencies noted above, the reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user is also due in part to the shift to well water for landscape irrigation.
Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM). Design Requirements: University of Utah Supplement. November 1, 2017.
URL: https://dfcm.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/University-Design-Requirements-November-1-2017-final.docx.pdf
C. Water Distribution System (1) The source of the University’s domestic water distribution system is Salt Lake City’s water supply system. (2) Water conservation measures are to be designed into, and implemented on all new construction or substantial remodeling projects. No project is to increase the quantity of water consumed; indeed; water consumption should decrease with the completion of each project.
SOURCES
Facilities Sustainability & Energy tracks water use of utility bills and well water over time. Water systems are associated with buildings along with their floor area, construction date, and demolition year to account for changes over time. The university purchases most water from Salt Lake City, but some irrigation water pulled from a well system on site.
NOTE: The University system also serves water to the Intermountain Healthcare Primary Children's Medical Center, which that area has been added as a part of the system boundary for this credit. That building area is not applicable to energy and campus boundaries
NOTE: University began tracking well pump non-potable water used for irrigation in 2013. In 2010 the University began gradually switching irrigation from 100% potable water from the Salt Lake City water system to non-potable well water. In addition to the progress made in system efficiencies noted above, the reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user is also due in part to the shift to well water for landscape irrigation.
Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM). Design Requirements: University of Utah Supplement. November 1, 2017.
URL: https://dfcm.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/University-Design-Requirements-November-1-2017-final.docx.pdf
C. Water Distribution System (1) The source of the University’s domestic water distribution system is Salt Lake City’s water supply system. (2) Water conservation measures are to be designed into, and implemented on all new construction or substantial remodeling projects. No project is to increase the quantity of water consumed; indeed; water consumption should decrease with the completion of each project.
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.