Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 66.74
Liaison Jennifer Bodine
Submission Date July 22, 2024

STARS v2.2

Weber State University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.20 / 5.00 Drew Hodge
Water Conservation Specialist
Facilities Management
"---" 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 115,117,305 Gallons 155,227,900 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 58,853,466 Gallons 68,946,400 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2022 June 30, 2023
Baseline Period July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016

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:

WSU is using the baseline year of FY 2016 because that is the first year that WSU had accurate culinary and secondary water consumption figures.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 850 770
Number of employees resident on-site 3 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 18,868 17,245
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,980 1,805
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 4,112 1,814
Weighted campus users 12,765.25 13,119.50

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 4,610.44 Gallons 5,255.26 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
12.27

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 3,201,258 Gross square feet 3,020,397 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 18.38 Gallons per square foot 22.83 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
19.46

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

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 440.70 Acres 440.70 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 261,214.67 Gallons per acre 352,230.32 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
25.84

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:

In 2016 WSU hired a full time Water Conservation Specialist. WSU has implemented a Water Warrior competition, a point based incentive program for WSU's landscapers and plumbers to improve the irrigation and use less water.


 


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

Over 95% of WSU facilities are watered using non-potable water. Our water for irrigation is obtained from the Pineview Reservoir, from Weber Basin. The small areas that are still watered using culinary water are being xeriscaped, or are in the process of being converted to use secondary water.


in 2023 the university updated its cooling towers to run on both secondary water, as well as culinary water. 


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:

EPA WaterSense low flow fixtures have been installed in all buildings renovated from 2009 to present. All new construction is required to have low flow fixtures and dual flush toilets. WSU plans to retrofit all other existing buildings on campus with low flow fixtures and dual flush toilets over the next several years.


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.