| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.79 |
| Liaison | Larry Cook |
| Submission Date | Dec. 4, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of South Carolina
OP-22: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.78 / 5.00 |
Cindy
Wellington Utility Manager Facilities |
Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | 430,686,869 Gallons | 433,420,642 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 430,686,869 Gallons | 433,420,642 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2015 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The baseline year was selecting due to reliable data availability and to align with previous reporting data.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 18,993 | 19,090 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 102 | 103 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 103,694 | 98,720 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 19,570 | 19,083 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 97,221.75 | 93,150.50 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 4,429.94 Gallons | 4,652.91 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 | 14,114,590 Gross square feet | 13,270,645 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 30.51 Gallons per square foot | 32.66 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 121.60 Acres | 119 Acres |
Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds | 3,541,832.80 Gallons per acre | 3,642,190.27 Gallons per acre |
Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
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:
There is signage in housing bathrooms to encourage use of installed low flush toilet valves. Students research initiatives are funded by a mini-grant (Sustainable Magellan) to focus on an array of environmental issues, including water use and management.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
There are several rainwater barrels and cisterns on campus designed to capture rainwater and reuse it for irrigation and garden management. One 1000-gallon capacity barrel is being deployed to bring harvested rainwater to the campus community garden. We have water recovery and reuse systems on some of our buildings. The Darla Moore School of Business has a grey water capture system. We also have installed Calsense Irrigation meters on some of our fields which conserves water as well. We have installed low flow fixtures in restrooms. At our energy plants, which use water for the cooling towers and boilers, we have installed wells to decrease our use of city water.
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):
We have installed foot-pedal valves that prevent the water from running unnecessarily in the kitchens, and low gpm fixtures have been installed in the sinks and showers of many of the dormitories on campus. During an Energy Performance Contract, we installed low flow aerating pluming fixtures in certain buildings. We have installed faucets and toilets with automatic valves and sensors to limit water usage.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The data source are from our submeters and vendor bills.
The data source are from our submeters and vendor bills.
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.