Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 70.01
Liaison Rebecca Walker
Submission Date April 13, 2022

STARS v2.2

Southern Oregon University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.33 / 4.00 Rebecca Walker
Sustainability Manager
Facilities, Management, Sustainability and Planning
"---" 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 77,318,836.36 Gallons 70,464,503.71 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 15,880,305.04 Gallons 15,812,217.36 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period Jan. 1, 2021 Dec. 31, 2021
Baseline Period July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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

The baseline of Fiscal Year 2005 was selected because it was the first year that we had reliable records on file.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 779 1,008
Number of employees resident on-site 2 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site 115 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,500.70 3,913.80
Full-time equivalent of employees 568.30 635
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 788 22.50
Weighted campus users 2,771 3,646.73

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 5,730.89 Gallons 4,336.00 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 1,871,242 Gross square feet 1,042,776 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 8.49 Gallons per square foot 15.16 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
44.03

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 144 Acres 153 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 536,936.36 Gallons per acre 460,552.31 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
-16.59

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

SOU utilizes non-potable water (supplied by the Talent Irrigation District) for most of the irrigation on the Ashland Campus. The sources of water for the Talent Irrigation District are Howard Prairie Lake, Hyatt Reservoir, Emigrant Lake, Keene Creek Reservoir, and Bear Creek and its tributaries.

SOU offsets 100% of its Water Use through Bonneville Environment Foundation Water Restoration Certificates.


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

The university is continuously working to replace existing plumbing fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures and fittings. All plumbing fixtures are replaced with low flow, high-efficiency products and all new buildings are built to optimize water efficiency.


Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.