Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 55.56
Liaison Casey Romero
Submission Date Aug. 25, 2021

STARS v2.2

Oklahoma State University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.30 / 4.00 Kristeena Blaser
Sustainability Coordinator
Energy Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Low

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 381,475,800 Gallons 419,010,000 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 381,475,800 Gallons 419,010,000 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 2005

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
---

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,667 7,066
Number of employees resident on-site 323 411
Number of other individuals resident on-site 341 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 21,629 21,235
Full-time equivalent of employees 4,962 4,677
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 435 247
Weighted campus users 21,455.50 21,118

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 17,779.86 Gallons 19,841.37 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
10.39

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 11,613,854 Gross square feet 10,357,207 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 32.85 Gallons per square foot 40.46 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
18.81

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 505 Acres 700 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 755,397.62 Gallons per acre 598,585.71 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
-26.20

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:

OSU's Housing & Residential Life staff call for shorter showers, turning of faucets while brushing teeth, stress the importance of reporting water leaks. OSU staff are encouraged to purchase water saving equipment and Cooperative Extension offers a variety of fact sheets about water conservation.


A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:

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. 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. These systems continue to be monitored on a regular basis.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:

Landscape Services team members are equipped with soil probes to monitor watering needs frequently. Outfitting and training the staff ensures control of over watering and leak detections. Effecient drip irrigation is used in all newly landscaped and renovated garden spaces. Furthermore, Energy Star appliances are preferred throughout campus and building retrofits include the installation of high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings such as low-flow flush valves, sink and shower aerators. OSU is an EPA Energy Star Partner recognized for using ENERGY STAR resources to reduce energy and water waste.


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:

Data Sources:
Steven McClary, Manager, Geospatial Systems
John Lee, Assistant Manager, Landscape Install Services
Marlene Montgomery, Program Analyst & Project Manager, Institutional Research and Analytics
Laura Davis, Programming Analyst, Housing & Residential Life
Craig Spencer, Assistant CFO - Facilities Management and Director - Energy Services
Casey Keyser, Senior Energy Manager, Energy Services


Data Sources:
Steven McClary, Manager, Geospatial Systems
John Lee, Assistant Manager, Landscape Install Services
Marlene Montgomery, Program Analyst & Project Manager, Institutional Research and Analytics
Laura Davis, Programming Analyst, Housing & Residential Life
Craig Spencer, Assistant CFO - Facilities Management and Director - Energy Services
Casey Keyser, Senior Energy Manager, Energy Services

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.