Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.14
Liaison Casey Romero
Submission Date Jan. 12, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Oklahoma State University
OP-26: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 5.00 Ilda Hershey
Sustainability Coordinator
OSU Physical Plant
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of water risk for the institution’s main campus:
High

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined)::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use 457,305,000 Gallons 419,010,000 Gallons

Potable water use::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 457,305,000 Gallons 419,010,000 Gallons

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users"::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 6,317 7,066
Number of residential employees 382 411
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 21,522 21,235
Full-time equivalent of employees 5,074 4,677
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 544 247

Gross floor area of building space::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 12,425,166 Square feet 10,357,207 Square feet

Area of vegetated grounds::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 585.53 Acres 700 Acres

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 31, 2014
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 2005

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
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Water recycled/reused on campus, performance year:
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Recycled/reused water withdrawn from off-campus sources, performance year:
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A brief description of any water recovery and reuse systems employed by the institution:

Two large barrels are stationed in the Mother's Garden in front of the Rancher's Club at the Student Union to collect rain water for use in that garden.


A brief description of any water metering and management systems employed by the institution:

The majority of buildings on campus are metered for water and tracked by E-Cap.


A brief description of any building retrofit practices employed by the institution, e.g. to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings:

Building retrofits include the installation of high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings such as low-flow flush valves, sink and shower aerators.


A brief description of any policies or programs employed by the institution to replace appliances, equipment and systems with water-efficient alternatives:

When appliances, equipment and systems are replaced, Energy Star units are used.


A brief description of any water-efficient landscape design practices employed by the institution (e.g. xeriscaping):

Xeriscape practices are really basic landscape design principles that we consider and use in every new landscape design or renovation on campus as noted in other sections like plant selection, mulching, wise use of sod, and efficient irrigation use.


A brief description of any weather-informed irrigation technologies employed by the institution:

OSU has irrigation controllers on a central controlled system with a weather station that reads rainfall, wind speed and evapotranspiration. Irrigation frequency and timing correlates with these calibrations to irrigate at the most efficient settings. Rain sensors are also used on about 85% of the controllers to shut off irrigation if rainfall reaches a 1/8 of an inch.


A brief description of other water conservation and efficiency strategies employed by the institution:

OSU has replaced 90% of the spray heads in planting beds installed prior to 2011 with drip irrigation. We use a matched precipitation nozzle on about 85% of our turf spray heads which in turn uses less water and causes less run off. Watering times and frequency for turf are set to ensure survivability with minimal input. All irrigation systems are on a 3 month maintenance schedule to check for continued efficiency of the system. OSU developed irrigation design material standards in 2011 to ensure the most efficient irrigation systems. These standards and day to day maintenance plans are reviewed quarterly and prior to any new planting or drought restrictions.


The website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
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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.