| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.89 |
| Liaison | Isabel Savransky |
| Submission Date | Nov. 14, 2023 |
Ontario Tech University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.87 / 4.00 |
Isabel
Savransky Sustainability & Asset Planner Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability |
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 | 62,831 Cubic meters | 69,812 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 62,616 Cubic meters | 69,812 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, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Baseline of 2013 was adopted as it was the earliest year that full water records were available.
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 | 10,139 | 8,347 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 749 | 604 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 385 | 121.50 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,877.25 | 6,622.13 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 7.95 Cubic meters | 69,812 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 | 121,402.97 Gross square meters | 93,481.47 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 0.52 Cubic meters per square meter | 0.75 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 | 93 Hectares | 93 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 675.60 Cubic meters per hectare | 750.67 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:
Part of the behavioural changes on campus: tips and best practices are share via website, newsletters to staff and faculty (The Weekly Report) along with social media post, encouraging these best practices.
We conduct information booths promoting sustainability practices and shifting individuals attitudes and habits.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Storm water collection and management
Each building has been designed with a second plumbing system that collects storm water from the roofs and stores it in a 250,000-litre bioswale cistern. This water is then used for irrigation and flushing within the Business and Information Technology building, reducing the university's fresh water consumption of treated water from municipal sources.
Grey water collection and management
The Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory uses approximately 88,000 litres of fresh water every day. This water is supplied by ground-source wells to ensure high-quality water that is low in metals. Grey water is then directed to a 50,000-litre underground cistern, where it is reused. Grey water usage within the buildings is then directed into the storm water management system.
These systems, along with state-of-the-art sensor controls and low-flow water features throughout the buildings, help the university save 32 million litres of water every year.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Ontario Tech has state-of-the-art sensor controls and low-flow water features throughout the buildings.
In 2016, the Campus Tennis Centre was converted to a multi-sport turf facility and it 2018, the institution replaced the grass on Vaso's Field into a artificial turf; this significantly reduces the water used for irrigation to water the fields.
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.