| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.18 |
| Liaison | Chris Adam |
| Submission Date | Dec. 30, 2024 |
Dawson College
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Chris
Adam Coordinator Sustainability Office |
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 | 21,415 Cubic meters | 90,763.80 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 21,415 Cubic meters | 90,763 Cubic meters |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2021 | June 30, 2024 |
| Baseline Period | Dec. 1, 2019 | Dec. 1, 2020 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
Overview: In the past (pre-2017-18), water use was not measured. The 100 year-old pipes could have been leaking underground with little evidence from water use metrics. Unfortunately, this was quite common in Montreal, with ample water supplies from the St. Lawrence river and aging infrastructure to move it throughout the city. Although water metering software was not installed at Dawson until late 2018, significant water reduction measures were implemented. In the 2014-15 fiscal year, many washroom urinals, faucets and toilets were replaced and resulted in a savings in water consumption of 9,239 cubic meters of water based on specifications of past and replaced appliance water use.
We used a full year pre-COVID as a baseline year and then an average water use of 3 full non-COVID years as a performance year.
Water use efficiency measures:
Full-time plumber employed by the college to supervise all water-related issues. Firms are hired for emergency large repairs. This ensures leaks are identified and repaired quickly.
Camera inspections within existing water pipes to inspect for damage or leaks and repair accordingly.
Retrofits of washrooms continued with the installation of low fow/high pressure toilets. Completed in 2024.
Small sprinkler system for parking lot micro-habitats sprinkling was modified - P1 & P2.
Washrroom faucets replaced with automated turn on/off and mixed heating feature - most recent in G wing
Low flow urinals installed throughout college.
Low flow shower heads installed in athletics washrooms.
Awareness campaigns validating communities accomplishments with regards to water conservation implemented throughout college.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 7,979 | 7,970 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,006.22 | 795 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 6,738.91 | 6,573.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 3.18 Cubic meters | 13.81 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 | 79,217 Gross square meters | 79,217 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 0.27 Cubic meters per square meter | 1.15 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 | 2.04 Hectares | 2.04 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 10,494.48 Cubic meters per hectare | 44,479.06 Cubic meters per hectare |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
Optional Fields
Awareness campaigns began in 2019 with the results of monthly water consumption and visual comparisons being made for students and staff at staff meetings. Staff newsletters are also used to raise awareness of water use.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
A master landscape plan is developed and has identified water management from rooftops, parking lots, and snow melt. Retention ponds and bioswales are planned to increase water absorbtion into the landscape.
A national demonstration project was implemented with the financial support of CICan's ImpAct-Climate program. Dawson students constructed a raised biorerention unit 70 ft long that captures all of the rooftop runoff from the library (copper roofing) and sends the water through the vegetated bio retention project. This area has increased biodiversity, replaced paved surface areas to vegetation and will help return clean water to the atmosphere and clean overflow to the sewer.
A second bioretention project is planned for the Spring of 2025.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
The last wing of the college had its washroom toilets (low water/high pressure units), faucets (automated mixed temperature) and urinals changed in this reporting period. 100's of units (toilets/urinals) have been replaced in the last 8 years. Calculations of past and present unit water use (e.g. per flush or automated use verses timer for urinals) was calculated.
The faucets have motion detectors and automated temperature controls. Water use is monitored in various wings of the college and abnormal swings in volume noted. Water pipes are inspected with automated cameras and faulty/aged pipes replaced before leakage occurs.
Outdoor sprinklers placed on timers and used sparingly in high heat island locations around concrete and pavement, both to keep micro-habitats healthy and to prevent fire hazards. This also reduces the chance of fire from smokers throwing cigarette butts on the landscape from adjacent sidewalks around our urban campus.
Purchased dishwasher in 2024 was identified as low water use "high efficiency" unit. This dishwasher will process dishes from a new volunteer dishwashing centre as part of the zero-waste initiative.
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:
*update 2024: Dawson leased a small area for classrooms and the Nursing program (2023). This leased floor space is included in the gross floor area in Pre-4 for 2024 metrics, but was not included for OP-21 because a) we had no water data available from the owner and b) other users on in the building also influenced the amount of water being used. Consequently we just used the main campus gross floor area, not a total of the main campus and the leased area.
Interviews with Facilities staff - plumber and technician
Environmental Technician - Office of Sustainability who monitors water use monthly and collects data.
Faciities Manager - Office of Sustainability Executive Committee
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.