The University of British Columbia
OP-26: Water Use

The water consumption baseline (Fiscal Year 2007/08) was adopted to closely align with UBC’s Climate Action Plan baseline.

A living machine style wastewater reuse system and a rainwater harvesting system were installed as part of the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building, to supply non-potable and potable water respectively. In the performance year these systems were still in an extended commissioning phase. At the Buchanan buildings, a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation was installed, which is also completing commissioning. Other rainwater harvesting systems are being explored for new buildings on campus.

All of UBC's Ancillary Units (e.g. student housing, conference and athletics facilities) are metered for water consumption. These meters are read on a regular basis so that these users can be billed. In addition, approximately 60 of UBC's Core buildings are metered for water consumption. These buildings are not billed; however, they are monitored to identify trends and conservation opportunities.

Student Housing has been upgrading student residences with higher efficiency water fixtures as part of renovations, and has planned future efficiency retrofits as part of its housing renewal plan. New higher efficiency fixture requirements were introduced into UBC’s Technical Guidelines, applicable to all new construction and renovation projects.

Typically, as equipment reaches end of life, more water-efficient versions will be used for replacement wherever possible. UBC’s technical guidelines also prohibit future use of once-through (open loop) cooling; replacement of existing open loop cooling systems is being pursued wherever opportunities can be identified.

UBC encourages our consultants to apply principles of xeriscaping to areas of new planting on campus, giving special consideration to soil amendments, efficient irrigation, plant and zone selection, and mulch.

Most landscape irrigation is controlled by timer systems. However, some irrigation systems utilize rain sensors. An analysis was conducted in 2013 to assess the benefits of rain sensors, with a resulting proposal to retrofit 28 irrigation systems with rain sensors to reduce water consumption and operating costs.

UBC is continuing to develop a Water Conservation Action Plan to build on our water conservation achievements to date and guide our water management activities in the future. UBC continues to retrofit existing buildings to increase water efficiency in academic buildings, student housing and research labs to enhance water conservation. Retrofit projects completed in 2013/14 include replacing old cooling equipment with higher efficiency equipment in the Geosciences (old Earth and Ocean Sciences) Building, estimated to save 450,000 gallons of water annually. Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) also completed a number of water efficiency upgrades to student residences, as part of their five-year Building Retrofit and Upgrade Schedule. For new construction and major renovations for institutional buildings at UBC, the water efficiency requirements in LEED must be met. In addition, for residential buildings in the neighbourhoods, we updated the Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP 3.0) to require higher efficiency toilets, faucets, showerheads, laundry machines and dishwashers. In 2013/14 UBC also updated design standards in UBC Technical Guidelines to require higher efficiency fixtures, faucets and toilets for all projects, including those outside of LEED and REAP certification, ensuring all new buildings on campus will be built to higher water efficiency standards. In addition to saving energy and reducing GHG emissions, upgrading our Academic District Energy System (ADES) from steam to hot water will also lead to increased water conservation and will save 36 million gallons of water annually when completed, equivalent to saving 54 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water each year.