Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 73.99
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Oct. 20, 2021

STARS v2.2

Western University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.94 / 4.00 Evan Green
Energy and Carbon Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
Low to Medium

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person 

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 846,621 Cubic meters 1,222,681.90 Cubic meters

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 846,621 Cubic meters 1,222,681.90 Cubic meters

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period Jan. 1, 2019 Dec. 31, 2019
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 2005

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:
The water use baseline was adopted to be consistent with the energy baseline.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,308 5,107
Number of employees resident on-site 8 8
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 30,693 23,637
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,871 3,369
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 898 792
Weighted campus users 26,828.50 20,939.25

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 31.56 Cubic meters 58.39 Cubic meters

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
45.96

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 875,755.57 Gross square meters 652,324 Gross square meters

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 0.97 Cubic meters per square meter 1.87 Cubic meters per square meter

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
48.42

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

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 134 Hectares 138 Hectares

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 6,318.08 Cubic meters per hectare 8,860.16 Cubic meters per hectare

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
28.69

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
Western University is committed to water conservation. We are currently undergoing an energy and water master plan in order to ensure we are taking a coordinated and integrated approach to water management on campus. Through this project, we are seeking opportunities for savings. We are looking at the operation of existing equipment, and looking to incorporate new technologies, including renewables.

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
NA

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Large scale projects to install low-flow fixtures have been completed in residences and Western's sustainable design guidelines require water-efficient selections for new/retrofit applications.

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:
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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.