Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.34
Liaison Elida Erickson
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, Santa Cruz
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.15 / 6.00 Patrick Testoni
Energy Manager
Physical Plant - Utilities
"---" 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’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
High

Part 1 

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use --- 782,444.25 Cubic meters

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 651,582.62 Cubic meters 782,444.25 Cubic meters

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2002 June 30, 2005

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
This matches existing mandatory reporting requirements to our local municipality and UC Office of the President.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 8,691
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
6,023
Number of employees resident on-site 205 112
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 643
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
415
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 19,142
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
14,281
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 3,740 3,438
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 20,028.50 15,238

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 32.53 Cubic meters 51.35 Cubic meters

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
36.64

Part 2 

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 526,714.77 Gross square meters 430,960.67 Gross square meters

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 1.24 Cubic meters per square meter 1.82 Cubic meters per square meter

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
31.86

Part 3 

Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Yes

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 737.87 Hectares 733.70 Hectares

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 0 Cubic meters per hectare 1,066.44 Cubic meters per hectare

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

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
The University engages the campus community through emails, flyers, as well as outreach through residential advisors and building contacts. We also have implemented an automated meter analytics system (Beacon Cellular Endpoint System) that uses cellular communication to track hourly usage, and a web based interface to allow students, staff, and faculty to understand their water consumption patterns.

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
UCSC is in the design phase of two waste water treatment plants on campus.

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives (e.g. building retrofits):
A Major Maintenance program retrofits buildings annually. A top priority of the program is to upgrade all plumbing fixtures to the highest efficiency technology available. High usage, inefficient fixtures are prioritized for Deferred Maintenance and Water Efficiency funding projects. The campus utilizes a Evapotranspiration irrigation system for watering major turf and landscape areas. The Green Office Certification and Green Labs Program works to install aerators.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://sustainability.ucsc.edu/initiatives/files/drought/UC%20Santa%20Cruz%20Water%20Action%20Plan%20Final.pdf

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The baseline period for UCSC tracks the annual average over three years from July 2002-June 2005. Baseline year for Gross Floor Area of Building Space is 2003, the most relevant data available that aligns with one year of the 3-year water baseline period.

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.