| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.43 |
| Liaison | Elida Erickson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2022 |
University of California, Santa Cruz
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.23 / 6.00 |
Ellen
Vaughan Water & Climate Action Manager Sustainability Office |
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 | 169,469,124 Gallons | 206,700,000 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 169,469,124 Gallons | 206,700,000 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2002 | June 30, 2005 |
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 | 6,023 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 203 | 112 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 643 | 415 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 19,147 | 14,281 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 3,789 | 3,438 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 20,068.50 | 15,238 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 8,444.53 Gallons | 13,564.77 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 | 5,959,312 Gross square feet | 4,638,824 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 28.44 Gallons per square foot | 44.56 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 | 1,823 Acres | 1,813 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 92,961.67 Gallons per acre | 114,009.93 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 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's Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems: https://sustainability.ucsc.edu/initiatives/water/water-catchment.html
UCSC is exploring the potential for 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:
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.
Article published 12/2020: Grounds Department Embraces Sustainability and Saves One Million Gallons of Water: https://sustainability.ucsc.edu/news-events/news/index.html
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 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.
Like much of our data for this report, we are utilizing the last time period where we were not significantly effected by COVID. During COVID, our water usage dropped significantly.
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.
Like much of our data for this report, we are utilizing the last time period where we were not significantly effected by COVID. During COVID, our water usage dropped significantly.
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.