| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 92.73 |
| Liaison | Emmanuelle Jodoin |
| Submission Date | Oct. 24, 2022 |
Université de Sherbrooke
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Chantal
Couture Director General Building Services |
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 | 211,186 Cubic meters | 523,244 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 211,186 Cubic meters | 523,244 Cubic meters |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | May 1, 2021 | April 30, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2002 | Dec. 31, 2002 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Although the water management plan under sustainability planning was implemented two years prior to 2002, the latter was chosen in the context of reporting requirements related to other STARS credits, namely GHG and waste management, which have equivalent or similar baselines.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 515 | 993 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 5 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 70 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 22,618 | 12,902 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,387 | 2,892 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 984 | 14 |
| Weighted campus users | 19,715.75 | 12,083.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 211,186 Cubic meters | 523,244 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 | 361,354 Gross square meters | 232,012 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 0.58 Cubic meters per square meter | 2.26 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 | 97.52 Hectares | 105 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 2,165.64 Cubic meters per hectare | 4,983.28 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:
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Recognizing the importance of integrated water resource management, the University has implemented numerous measures since 2000 to protect this resource. Many improvements have been made over the years. Some examples of measures that have been taken to reduce drinking water consumption include:
• All timed flush toilets were eliminated, resulting in significant water savings. Low-flow equipment with motion sensors have been installed on all campuses. Low-flow showers have been installed in residence halls and athletic centres.
• There is no more use of potable water in cooling systems. Phasing out equipment using water from water lines.
• The use of potable water for cleaning in laboratory experiments has been replaced by air pumps. The use of potable water for suction pumps in scientific research laboratories was discontinued.
• A secondary cooling loop system with power plant chilled water has replaced potable water cooling for research equipment. There was a transfer of the cooling system from the cold rooms to a closed chilled water loop.
• In 2020, a cooling tower was replaced with an adiabatic tower in the JS Bourque Pavilion, reducing potable water use by 90% compared to the old tower.
• The replacement in 2013 of the 5 main cooling towers at the power plant with more efficient towers has had a significant impact on potable water and energy consumption.
• The ongoing replacement of old cast-iron pipes with new PV pipes has eliminated many underground leaks.
• Several pipes were relocated in the tunnels, increasing their life span and making it easier leakage monitoring. The installation of a water pipe in the tunnel avoided the use of a problematic underground section.
• Numerous energy-saving programs have reduced steam consumption and consequently the need to renew condenser losses. The same applies to the strategy of using electric heat pumps instead of steam heating. The reduction in steam consumption has reduced the consumption of make-up water.
• Monitoring of operating conditions allows significant leaks to be detected immediately through significant flow variation data, thus allowing for quick isolation of the leaks and avoidance of property damage. This process also allows for better monitoring of the performance of the university’s drinking water system.
• Most of the grass fields are maintained without watering. An automated watering system exists only for the two natural soccer and soccer fields. These automated systems ensure efficient watering that stops when it rains and in accordance with the Ville de Sherbrooke's watering periods.
• Quebec's water management strategies and regulations are included in the construction standards of the Université de Sherbrooke to limit the consumption of potable water.
The implementation of all these measures explains the large difference between the water consumption values of the baseline year and the performance year.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/campus/eau/
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 academic and demographic figures considered in this credit have been compiled for the financial year from 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022, consistent with the period during which the data was compiled. The reference period used for this credit is therefore not the same as the data presented in credit PRE5, which represents the year 2020-2021.
The academic and demographic figures considered in this credit have been compiled for the financial year from 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022, consistent with the period during which the data was compiled. The reference period used for this credit is therefore not the same as the data presented in credit PRE5, which represents the year 2020-2021.
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.