| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.39 |
| Liaison | Stephanie MacPhee |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2025 |
Dalhousie University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Stephanie
MacPhee Executive Director Office of Sustainability |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 469,920.01 Cubic meters | 1,242,692 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 468,843 Cubic meters | 1,242,692 Cubic meters |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | April 1, 2023 | March 31, 2024 |
| Baseline Period | April 1, 2009 | March 31, 2010 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
This is the baseline year adopted in the University Sustainability Plan. This figure assumes 80,000 m3 of water for the Agricultural campus in the baseline year. There is no historical measurement of water. As of FY 2018, the Campus is now connected to the Town of Truro's water supply, and thus accurate reporting in the performance year is being provided.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,539 | 2,259 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 7 | 9 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 5 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 19,161 | 15,685 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 6,091 | 5,592 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 393 | 160 |
| Weighted campus users | 19,280.75 | 16,409.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 24.32 Cubic meters | 75.73 Cubic meters |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Part 2. Reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 544,036 Gross square meters | 468,905 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 0.86 Cubic meters per square meter | 2.65 Cubic meters per square meter |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Part 3. Reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 65.80 Hectares | 65.80 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 7,141.66 Cubic meters per hectare | 18,885.93 Cubic meters per hectare |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
Optional Fields
Water conservation is a key program area highlighted in Ecolympics and through social marketing Rethink signage and messages. As well, significant fixture retrofits have been made such as low flow shower head, faucet aerators, dual flushing / low flow toilets, timed/occupancy driven urinal flush systems, etc.
E.g. of results from our residence Ecolympics program:
https://www.dal.ca/news/today/2024/03/22/announcing_the_ecolympics_2024_winners.html
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
There are cisterns to collect non-potable water in the Mona Campbell, LeMarchant Place, and Design buildings. Rain water cisterns will be added in new buildings, where appropriate. Also there have been retrofits of large research water units to recycle water (Aquatron).
https://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/campus-initiatives/water.html
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Reducing water consumption - The University has completed many water efficiency projects such as adding sensors to older urinal tanks, installing low flow fixtures and toilets for new and existing buildings, adding rain water cisterns in new buildings, and retrofitting large research water units to recycle water (Aquatron). Upcoming projects are focusing on reducing water used for cooling equipment and air and in research.
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:
Further information regarding GHG emissions related to Water usage can be found in Dalhousie's GHG inventory report. As well, the Annual Sustainability Progress Report 23/24 can be found at the following link which includes progress on water reduction goals at Dal:
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.