| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.80 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
OP-26: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.20 / 2.00 |
Scott
Albert director of facilities facilities & planning department |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Level of water risk for the institution’s main campus:
Low
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined)::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | 61,858,000 Gallons | 68,810,000 Gallons |
None
Potable water use::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 61,858,000 Gallons | 68,810,000 Gallons |
None
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users"::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 2,984 | 2,881 |
| Number of residential employees | 0 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 8,642 | 7,704 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 879 | 826 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 757 | 141 |
None
Gross floor area of building space::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 2,511,667 Square feet | 1,916,095 Square feet |
None
Area of vegetated grounds::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 512 Acres | 511.60 Acres |
None
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Sept. 1, 2012 | Aug. 30, 2013 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2004 | Aug. 30, 2005 |
None
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The water use baseline was adopted to stay consistent with the base year selected for our greenhouse gas inventory.
None
Water recycled/reused on campus, performance year:
1,000
Gallons
None
Recycled/reused water withdrawn from off-campus sources, performance year:
0
Gallons
None
A brief description of any water recovery and reuse systems employed by the institution:
There are six irrigation systems on campus. One utilizes well water to irrigate the Egli Soccer Field, three utilize the run-off from natural springs (where runoff is directed into holding tanks, from which it is pumped to pressurize the irrigation systems); one serves the Practice Soccer Field, one serves Kritchfield Baseball Field, and one serves the community gardens at the Macoskey Center). The fifth and sixth systems use roof rainwater collection systems (one at the Smith Student Center and one at the Macoskey Center Barn) to irrigate an indigenous planting area at the east side of the Smith Student Center and the community garden at the Macoskey Center.
Greywater from the Harmony House at the Macoskey Center is also reused; it receives its potable water (for sinks and a washing machine only; a Clivus Multrum toilet/composting system does not require water service) from an unmetered well; this greywater is then treated by a Wastewater Treatment Catchment System consisting of two separator tanks and then reused via a distribution system that directs the waste water to an outdoor aquatic planting area and eventually a meadow.
In addition, the installation of artificial turf at the SRU football field avoids the need for any irrigation at all at that location.
The water recycled/reused on campus during the performance year was roughly estimated for the greywater system at the Macoskey Center's Harmony House, which recycles/reuses the water from one washing machine, one kitchen sink, and one bathroom lavatory.
None
A brief description of any water metering and management systems employed by the institution:
Twelve buildings on campus have inline vortex flow meters that are tied into the campus building automation system. The data is collected and analyzed in a utility reporting database. All potable campus water is provided by the Slippery Rock Municipal water authority, with annual water usage quantified by the authority.
None
A brief description of any building retrofit practices employed by the institution, e.g. to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings:
An ESCO project completed several years ago included the installation of low-flow water fixtures throughout campus.
None
A brief description of any policies or programs employed by the institution to replace appliances, equipment and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
In addition to the University’s policy of not using potable water for irrigation purposes, SRU’s Energy Conservation Policy includes “Action Step 6: Implement Water Conservation Procedures (a) Faucets, hose bibs and other water-using equipment should never be left open and unattended. Low flow devices should be used where practical and economically justified. Also, all new construction is to be designed to LEED standards, which include water efficiency credits.”
None
A brief description of any water-efficient landscape design practices employed by the institution (e.g. xeriscaping):
The University’s general policy is to not use potable water for irrigation purposes.
None
A brief description of any weather-informed irrigation technologies employed by the institution:
The rainwater low-flow irrigation system for plantings at the Smith Student Center have rain sensors that prevent the water pump from turning on when it is raining.
None
A brief description of other water conservation and efficiency strategies employed by the institution:
Bioswales, rain gardens, pervious parking lot paving and a green roof were installed in the recently-constructed Smith Student Center to retain rainwater and minimize water and contaminants admitted to the storm sewer system. Three other green roofs have been installed on campus – at the Dinger Special Education Building, the Macoskey Center Springhouse outbuilding, and a bus shelter roof near the Strain Behavioral Sciences Building. The Macoskey Center Harmony House also uses a Clivus Multrum toilet/compost system that uses no water.
The installation of artificial turf at the SRU football field avoids the need for any irrigation at all at that location.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The Macoskey Center Harmony House clivus multrum toilet and greywater system description can be found at:
http://www.sru.edu/academics/colleges/ches/macoskey/Pages/PhotoTour-HarmonyHouse.aspx
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.