| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.15 |
| Liaison | Sergio Alza |
| Submission Date | Nov. 24, 2020 |
Brock University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.51 / 4.00 |
Elenore
Breslow Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management and Environmental Sustainability Research Centre |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 296,025 Cubic meters | 356,277 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 296,025 Cubic meters | 356,277 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, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Brock University has elected to utilize the 2013 benchmark for its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory; therefore, the water consumption baseline was created to coincide with the GHG baseline.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,438 | 2,331 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,357 | 16,151 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,424 | 1,428 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 64 | 30 |
| Weighted campus users | 13,897.25 | 13,744.50 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 296,025 Cubic meters | 356,277 Cubic meters |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 256,565 Gross square meters | 241,356 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 1.15 Cubic meters per square meter | 1.48 Cubic meters per square meter |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 79.91 Hectares | 79.91 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 3,704.48 Cubic meters per hectare | 4,458.48 Cubic meters per hectare |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
Brock University has installed 44 water bottle filling stations across the University campus. These stations feature a “green ticket” that tracks the usage and displays the number of plastic water bottles saved and diverted from the landfill. In 2018, reusable water bottles were refilled approximately 930,000 times, keeping around 9.3 metric tonnes of plastic from the landfill. Having these water bottle filling stations around campus encourages students to bring their own water bottles to campus and reduce the use of single-use plastics.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
One of Grounds Services main objectives is to conserve irrigation water. This is being achieved by using automated watering systems that started being used in 2004, with scheduling being monitored and regulated as precipitation rates change. Since 2011, water is also saved by prioritizing areas such as the varsity fields, and only watering as needed, while also stopping to water some areas altogether. Rain and wind sensors that shut down the watering systems under conditions where extra water is not needed were installed in 2006 and 2008 respectively. Gray water systems have also been added to International Centre for toilets, and the Cairns Complex for irrigation.
The Plaza Building has a 45,000L cistern which supplies gray water to the toilets and urinals for the building, in combination with the use of low flow fixtures. The International Building has a 50,000L cistern uses the same low flow fixtures as well as gray water for urinals and toilets at the time of build in 2010, this would have provided a 41% reduction in water usage comparative to buildings during that era.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Existing toilets are being replaced with new low-flow technology, in order to save water. Recently, Welch Hall’s units were replaced with 24 dual flush toilets, 3 low flush toilets, and 8 urinals. This has led to annual water savings of 601,000L.
Several water-saving retrofits were completed in the Central Utilities Building. In 2013, the number of cycles for the Cooling Tower was increased from 3.5 to 5.0, reducing the amount of cooling water by 40% and saving 10,505m3 annually. In 2016, filter improvements were made, saving 33,880 m3 of water and $11,200/year. In 2017, engine cooling water was recycled to tower basins, instead of being sent to drains, saving 45,072 m3 and $14,900.
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:
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.