| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.50 |
| Liaison | Breeana Sylvas |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2022 |
University of California, Merced
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.87 / 5.00 |
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 | 118,540,052 Gallons | 52,293,667 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 118,540,052 Gallons | 52,293,667 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2019 | June 30, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2005 | June 30, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Baseline established in alignment with UC System Sustainable Practices policy three year average from FY 2005-2008. Figures provided most accurately reflect campus water usage.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,600 | 588 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,847 | 1,367 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,623 | 566 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 8,752.50 | 1,596.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 13,543.56 Gallons | 32,750.07 Gallons |
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 | 2,325,086 Gross square feet | 804,018 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 50.98 Gallons per square foot | 65.04 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 45 Acres | 70 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 2,634,223.38 Gallons per acre | 747,052.39 Gallons per acre |
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:
The campus has held water and energy battles in student housing that has contributed to water use reduction through behavioral changes. The Green Labs and Green Office program on the UC Merced campus has also supported engaging faculty researchers and staff to reduce water use in research labs and offices.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
The campus does not use non-potable water.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
The campus employs a number of strategies to help save water, and, as a byproduct, energy. Those efforts include: not watering some lawns; using an evapotranspiration-based irrigation system that senses weather and moisture and waters only when appropriate; reducing watering times by 28 percent; using sprinkler heads with more directed streams instead of wide sprays; being vigilant about repairs that can mitigate leaks, reduce or eliminate runoff, and improve irrigation efficiency; as well as the use of low-flow hardware in housing. The campus also worked to deploy Hydrogel which is an environmentally sound non-toxic biodegradable gel that increases moisture-retention capabilities and acts as a water and nutrient reservoir. The Hydrogel holds the moisture of water until root system needs it. In residential buildings, the campus has installed low flow shower heads and .5gpm creators in faucets to help reduce water consumption.
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:
UC Merced expansion has included increases in campus building stocks and student/staff/faculty fte. Even with significant growth the campus has reduced its water consumption per capita.
Also, UC Merced has reduced building water usage by 40% less than comparable building stocks. Every campus building is certified LEED silver or better. UCM buildings have low-flow fixtures and touch less water faucets and as a rule. Buildings earn 80% of the USGBC LEED water credits.
The GSF reflected in performance year take into consideration all campus water usage, this includes offsite and leased facilities.
The campus built out reduced the total vegetated area on the university campus from baseline year to performance.
UC Merced expansion has included increases in campus building stocks and student/staff/faculty fte. Even with significant growth the campus has reduced its water consumption per capita.
Also, UC Merced has reduced building water usage by 40% less than comparable building stocks. Every campus building is certified LEED silver or better. UCM buildings have low-flow fixtures and touch less water faucets and as a rule. Buildings earn 80% of the USGBC LEED water credits.
The GSF reflected in performance year take into consideration all campus water usage, this includes offsite and leased facilities.
The campus built out reduced the total vegetated area on the university campus from baseline year to performance.
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.