University of Oregon
OP-26: Water Use

2010 is the earliest available reliable data that covers these metrics. It is also the year before significant campus growth.

UO Eugene is guided by the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development and progressive City of Eugene Stormwater ordinances and adds a variety of stormwater mitigation systems each year. The water recovery and reused systems is project-based. All new construction is required to be LEED Gold certified. Many of the buildings are already LEED Certified. A list of projects include: Student Rec. Center (400,000 gal. pool converted to cistern; water used to flush toilets); 15th Avenue (Flow-Through Planters); Allen Hall (Flow-Through Planter); Global Scholars Hall (Rain Garden + Green Roof); Lewis Integrative Science Building (LISB) (Rain Garden); Johnson Parking Lot (Bioswale); Matt Knight Arena (Flow-Through Planter); Ford Alumni Center (Green Roof + Flow-Through Planter); Northside Parking Area (Bioswale); Jacqui Academic Center (Bioswale); Walnut Station Parking Lot (Bioswales); Frohnmayer Music Building (Green Roof + Permeable Paving); HEDCO Building (Bioswale, Rain Garden, Roof Garden, Filtration Beds + infiltration Basins); Villard Alley (Permeable Paving); Lokey Laboratories (Roof Garden); Lawrence Hall Courtyard (Rain Garden + Permeable Paving); Many Nations Longhouse (Bioswale + Green Roof); Moss Street Children’s Center (Bioswale); Heart of Campus (Flow-Through Planters + Permeable Paving); Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Parking Lot (Permeable Paving); Lillis Business Complex (Green Roof); Millrace (Bioswale); Straub Hall Courtyard (Rain Garden); Vivian Olum Child Development Center (Rain Garden); McKenzie Hall Courtyard (Flow-Through Planters). The estimated total stormwater mitigation area is ~ 736,484 Sq.ft. In addition, many of the buildings are equipped with high efficiency fixtures including reverse osmosis reclaimed to flush toilets and urinals and to irrigate. UO Oregon completed putting all of campus on a centralized computerized irrigation management system. This system adjusts watering based on atmospheric conditions, rather than a set water time. You may think western Oregon as rainy and wet, but we have quite dry summers. Without irrigation, their turf, plants, and trees would become stressed and vulnerable to pests. Most of campus utilizes automatic irrigation controls, which we are in the process of converting these to computerized, weather-based controls. This system helps us meet their goals to conserve water while promoting plant health. Regarding other satellite locations: OIMB strategically allows its sandy soil to receive and store most of the water but also have a 15,000 gallon cistern to collect rainwater. only have drinking fountains in two buildings on campus. All of toilets are low consumption. Bladder assisted. A computer-controlled seawater system pumps high-quality water from the mouth of Coos Bay on incoming tides, and the seawater is fed by gravity into all research and teaching laboratories on campus. The forest reserve is an excellent system to filter and store ground water. They let rainwater wash off the decks and bikes. The Shire does not water but does have a well and surface water in a stream and pond. They allow the floodplain to mitigate stormwater and do not alter the riparian habitat. UO Portland is LEED Gold certified and has a 15,000 rainwater cistern with high-efficiency appliances. The Pine Mountain Observatory has to have their water hauled in to fill an onsite cistern, which really forces them to conserve water.

Many individual meters have separate meter, but some buildings. We know how much rainwater is being used from the Student Rec Center only.

Campus Design Standards Section 22 00 00 – Plumbing (domestic waters; waste; sewer) (Maintenance; Common Work Results; Schedules; Insulation; Instrumentation & Control) UO goals of sustainability, life-cycle costs, maintainability, serviceability, high performance, quality equipment, and efficient campus inventory must be maintained. First costs may be impacted slightly as a result, but a better product will follow. http://cpdc.uoregon.edu/sites/cpdc1.uoregon.edu/files/Campus%20Design%20Standards.pdf The Oregon Model for Sustainability requires that new construction pay a fee into a fund that supports retrofit projects on older buildings across campus. The goal is to be net zero energy when new buildings are added.

The Oregon Model for Sustainable Development Policy dictates the development, repair, maintenance, and operations of the University of Oregon today have an impact on the local environment and the ability of future generations to thrive. All development, redevelopment, and remodeling on the university of Oregon campus shall incorporate sustainable design principles including existing and future land use, landscaping, building, and transportation plans as described in the policy refinement. All development projects as well as the surrounding landscape improvements within the project boundary shall adhere to the university of Oregon Model for Sustainable Development. All development projects include: 1. New buildings, additions, or renovations of 10,000 square feet (sf) or more of heated or cooled floor area; and 2.Building additions that increase the size of an existing building to 10,000 sf or more of heated or cooled floor area and renovations to buildings of 10,000 sf or more of heated or cooled floor area, which significantly affect: i) The existing mechanical or control systems; or ii) At least two of the following energy systems: interior lighting, building envelope, domestic hot water, or special equipment Note: Only those systems identified in (i) and (ii) that are significantly affected are subject to the OMSD requirements. All development projects must achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The certification process verifies that the project achieved a nationally recognized sustainability standard (LEED Gold) and demonstrates that the university is committed to sustainable design. http://pages.uoregon.edu/uplan/plandoc/CampusPlan/CampusPlan3/Policy10_CampusPlan3rdEdition2014.pdf

The UO Eugene has been shifting more toward drought-tolerant Texas and California species of plants to mitigate for warming summers and longer periods of drought. They are experimenting with no watering zones using western wildflower species and bulbs. In addition they are using species that are less disease prone. Regarding satellite locations: OIMB and the Shire replant with native species only and do not water. Both let nature take its course, trying to leave a minimal impact.

UO Oregon completed putting all of campus on a centralized computerized irrigation management system.  This system adjusts watering based on atmospheric conditions, rather than a set water time. Additionally, it employs flow detection to alert us to excessive water use and can shut down lines that are broken/leaking. However, not all zones of campus are fully equipped to take advantage of these features.  Having the system in place is a great step forward, but since we are not able to meter our flow across all of campus we do not have solid baseline data to measure against, only estimates. Regarding satellite locations: Neither OIMB, the Shire, UO Portland irrigate extensively relying on appropriate native plant species to naturally receive precipitation in their climate zone.

All new buildings are being fitted with water refill stations to reduce bottled water usage.