Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.42
Liaison Andrew D'Amico
Submission Date Aug. 25, 2021

STARS v2.2

Princeton University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.00 / 5.00 Thomas Nyquist
Executive Director
Engineering and Campus Energy
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Medium to High

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person 

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 183,453,080 Gallons 244,343,500 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 183,453,080 Gallons 244,343,500 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2019 June 30, 2020
Baseline Period July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,767 6,111
Number of employees resident on-site 332 474
Number of other individuals resident on-site 483 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 8,441 6,935
Full-time equivalent of employees 6,897 5,400
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 13,761.25 10,897.50

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 13,331.13 Gallons 22,421.98 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
40.54

Part 2. Reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 9,628,405 Gross square feet 8,158,600 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 19.05 Gallons per square foot 29.95 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
36.38

Part 3. Reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 346 Acres 260 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 530,211.21 Gallons per acre 939,782.69 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
43.58

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
Dual-flush toilets that were installed across campus to conserve water from toilet flushing are accompanied by informational signage in the bathroom stalls to encourage proper use and raise awareness about water conservation efforts.

The Andlinger Center also posted signage in its restrooms to alert occupants that water used for toilet flushing is harvested and reused from a rainwater collection system.

All dining halls are also tray-free, eliminating the need to wash trays.

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
The University has installed a combined 30,000 gallons of capacity for rainwater harvesting and condensate reuse for use in toilet flushing.

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Princeton University has taken significant steps to reduce water usage on campus by installing low-flow plumbing and athletic irrigation fixtures, high-efficiency washing machines and dishwashers, and tray-free dining in all dining halls.

Water-efficient plumbing includes low-flow sink aerators, showerheads and dual-flush toilets. There are also low-flow urinals installed in the Frick Chemistry building (1/8th of a gallon per flush) and several Sloan/Falcon waterless urinals installed on campus, including in Dillon gym and Butler College.

Water used for irrigation has been reduced by installing turf fields on athletic fields, and Princeton’s innovative “PowerPure” treatment system in Baker Rink saves hundreds of thousands of gallons of fresh water per year.

Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Total water usage represents water usage in additional University-owned buildings on top of those accounted for in the reported figure for gross floor area of building space (which only represent buildings in the CO2 footprint/main campus).

Potable water usage is assumed to equal total water usage, however not all water usage is used for potable purposes. The University is currently unable to differentiate water used in buildings versus water used for landscape irrigation.

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.