| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.77 |
| Liaison | Daryl Pierson |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2022 |
Portland State University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Amanda
Wolf Program + Assessment Coordinator Campus Sustainability Office |
"---"
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 to Medium
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 305,051 Cubic meters | 595,083.91 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 298,881.21 Cubic meters | 595,083.91 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, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Earliest year with data.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | ||
| Number of employees resident on-site | ||
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | ||
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | ||
| Full-time equivalent of employees | ||
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | ||
| Weighted campus users |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 18.61 Cubic meters | 43.88 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 | 485,763.12 Gross square meters | 442,402.14 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 0.62 Cubic meters per square meter | 1.35 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 | 6.14 Hectares | 5.74 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 49,657.32 Cubic meters per hectare | 103,701.39 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:
EcoReps and Residential Outreach:
EcoRep projects have included signage regarding water use behavior in dorms/apartments and laundry rooms.
Climate Champions Program:
Question specifically asking about water conservation, providing staff with information and resources to help encourage water conservation practices.
EcoRep projects have included signage regarding water use behavior in dorms/apartments and laundry rooms.
Climate Champions Program:
Question specifically asking about water conservation, providing staff with information and resources to help encourage water conservation practices.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Academic and Student Recreation Center (LEED Gold)*
Rain is harvested on the 5th floor and is collected in a holding tank on the first floor for use flushing toilets.
Engineering Building Hydrology Lab
Portland State University's Engineering Building, is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system that uses Oregon's average 38"" of annual rainfall to supplement the building's overall water demand. The system captures rain from the rooftop and diverts a portion through the rainwater harvesting system located in the hydrology lab on the 2nd floor. The water is stored in a 1000 gallon storage tank, filtered through carbon, and undergoes UV sterilization before being pumped to toilets and urinals on the 1st floor. In addition to conserving flush water and reducing rainwater runoff, this system also contributes to the university's engineering curriculum. Students use the rainwater harvesting system to study water usage rates, savings, filtration methods, and other aspects in an effort to advance this technology.
Stephen Epler Hall (LEED Silver)
Rainwater harvesting system to reduce need for potable water.
https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/water
Rain is harvested on the 5th floor and is collected in a holding tank on the first floor for use flushing toilets.
Engineering Building Hydrology Lab
Portland State University's Engineering Building, is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system that uses Oregon's average 38"" of annual rainfall to supplement the building's overall water demand. The system captures rain from the rooftop and diverts a portion through the rainwater harvesting system located in the hydrology lab on the 2nd floor. The water is stored in a 1000 gallon storage tank, filtered through carbon, and undergoes UV sterilization before being pumped to toilets and urinals on the 1st floor. In addition to conserving flush water and reducing rainwater runoff, this system also contributes to the university's engineering curriculum. Students use the rainwater harvesting system to study water usage rates, savings, filtration methods, and other aspects in an effort to advance this technology.
Stephen Epler Hall (LEED Silver)
Rainwater harvesting system to reduce need for potable water.
https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/water
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Green Revolving Fund Projects:
-Low flow fixture and installed aerators on sinks to reduce water usage in Millar Library, East Hall, and Cramer Hall
-Low flow fixture and installed aerators on sinks to reduce water usage in Millar Library, East Hall, and Cramer Hall
Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data not updated for FY20 due to CoVid. There are discrepancies between the PRE-5 numbers (which were updated for FY20) and OP-21 numbers, as all quantitative data for this credit was not updated for FY20 as CoVid erroneously affected our data and does not represent a sustained change.
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.