| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.02 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | Sept. 17, 2024 |
American University
OP-3: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.02 / 6.00 |
Lia
Gomez Sustainability Analyst Office of Sustainability |
3.1 Potable water use per person
Performance year for water use:
Peer group:
Potable water from off-site sources:
Reclaimed water from off-site sources:
Other off-site water sources:
Potable water from on-site sources:
Other on-site water sources:
Full-time equivalent student enrollment:
Full-time equivalent of employees:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following four figures:
Full-time equivalent students and employees:
Annual potable water use per person:
Points earned for indicator OP 3.1:
3.2 Potable water use per square meter
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following two figures:
Points earned for indicator OP 3.2:
3.3 Systems for water recovery and return
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s on-site rainwater harvesting systems:
The university has rain gardens, cisterns, and bioretention ponds in place to help manage rainwater. Additionally, the university attempts to reduce impermeable hardscape altogether and use pervious pavers when possible.
Does the institution recover water on-site for reuse?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s on-site water recovery and reuse systems:
Does the institution collect and return water to surface water or groundwater through on-site green infrastructure?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s on-site green infrastructure:
American University follows the DC Stormwater Regulations, which require stormwater best management practices (BMPs) for all new construction > 5000 sq. ft. and for any building additions or renovations.
AU does not have a written policy that requires LID for all new projects, but the DC Stormwater Management Guidelines, which AU adheres to, require it. New projects are all required to have at least LEED Gold certification, which covers rainwater management practices. With the entire campus being an arboretum, AU is committed to rainwater management.
AU uses a variety of strategies to deal with rainwater on campus. The university has rain gardens, cisterns, and bioretention ponds in place to help manage rainwater. Additionally, the university attempts to reduce impermeable hardscape altogether and use pervious pavers when possible.
Some of the notable stormwater management sites on campus include:
- Two bioretention ponds at the School of International Service (SIS) collect and slow stormwater runoff on either side of the building before filtering it and ultimately allowing excess water to enter the stormwater system through a Bay Saver.
- Green roofs on nine buildings on campus.
- A rain garden in front of the Kogod Building captures run-off rainwater and uses a Bay Saver.
- A rain garden outside of the Centennial Parking garage captures runoff. Parking has been removed between Clark and Roper Halls and replaced with rain gardens. There is also a rain garden behind McKinley.
- Permeable pavement is installed in on walkways on main campus near Kay Spiritual Center and McCabe Hall.
American University is committed to responsibility manager stormwater onsite in support of DC's and the Chesapeake Bay region goals.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.4 Ratio of water recovered/returned to total water withdrawal
Narrative outlining the methodologies used to estimate or model the annual volume of water recovered and/or returned on-site:
Estimated volume of rainwater harvested on-site for storage and use:
Estimated volume of water recovered on-site for reuse:
Estimated volume of water collected and returned through on-site green infrastructure:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following four figures:
Total water withdrawal:
Ratio of water recovered/returned to total water withdrawal:
Points earned for indicator OP 3.4:
Optional documentation
For the performance year, 3201 New Mexico Ave has been excluded as it has been in the rest of the report. AU owns the building and has some offices there, but there are additional tenants that are independently operated and not part of university operations (dry cleaning, restaurants, deli, other offices).
Data is from the 2023 fical year.
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.