| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.90 |
| Liaison | Katie Maynard |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2021 |
University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.77 / 6.00 |
Jewel
Persad Sustainability Manager Administration |
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 | 254,688,764 Gallons | 337,287,590 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 204,174,080 Gallons | 292,717,216 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, 1996 | June 30, 1999 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The baseline was chosen to match the baseline chosen in UCSB's Water Action Plan, which was produced in accordance with baseline requirements set by the University of California, Office of the President. The 1996-99 baseline was the earliest point in which UCSB had complete water consumption data. A three-year period was selected to provide a snapshot of water consumption, rather than one year's worth of data--a single year could have been a dry or wet year, thereby distorting policy regarding water consumption.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,414 | 4,002 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 68 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 24,443 | 17,790 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,697 | 4,130 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 4,213 | 246 |
| Weighted campus users | 21,315.75 | 17,256 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 9,578.55 Gallons | 16,963.21 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 | 8,390,475 Gross square feet | 4,725,563 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 24.33 Gallons per square foot | 61.94 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 | 750 Acres | 729.70 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 339,585.02 Gallons per acre | 462,227.75 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:
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
UCSB partnered with Goleta Sanitary District to build a recycled water facility, which is located at the Sanitary District, close to the campus. The facility produces recycled water, which we then use to irrigate 90% of the landscape on the campus. We also use recycled water in the toilets located in all the restrooms of the lab wing in Bren Hall.The University expanded the recycled water line along UCen Road. This expansion allows landscapes that were previously irrigated with potable water to now use recycled water.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
UCSB has made it a campus priority to update inefficient plumbing fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures, such as high-efficiency urinals, low-flow toilets, and new aerators on faucets. UCSB Facilities Management has received over $1,000,000 in grants and matched funding for retrofitting restrooms with efficient high-efficiency fixtures.
Additionally, the residence halls and dining commons have significantly improved their water conservation infrastructure in the past two years. Faucet aerators, high-efficiency shower heads (1.75 ga/minute) and dual-flush toilets (1.6/1.1 gallon per flush) have been installed in all of the residence halls. In the San Rafael residence hall, 100 new high efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons/flush) have been installed.
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:
Number of students resident on-site was adjusted to account for students moving out of housing in Spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Number of students resident on-site was adjusted to account for students moving out of housing in Spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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.