Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.93
Liaison Kevin Salfen
Submission Date Oct. 21, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of the Incarnate Word
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.25 / 6.00 Kevin Salfen
Co-Director, Office of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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 Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
High

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person 

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 56,750,120 Gallons 64,501,934 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 56,750,120 Gallons 64,501,934 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period June 1, 2023 May 31, 2024
Baseline Period June 1, 2022 May 31, 2023

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:

In consultation with representatives from San Antonio Water System, 2022-23 was chosen as a baseline year as the first year after the COVID lockdown era that represented a return to normal operations. 


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,080 1,080
Number of employees resident on-site 64 64
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 6,707 6,140
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,408 1,402
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 794 1,329
Weighted campus users 5,776.75 4,945.75

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 9,823.88 Gallons 13,041.89 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
24.67

Part 2. Reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 2,588,505 Gross square feet 2,588,505 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 21.92 Gallons per square foot 24.92 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
12.02

Part 3. Reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 739,300.50 Acres 739,300.50 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 76.76 Gallons per acre 87.25 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
12.02

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
---

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
---

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
---

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:

Vegetated area calculated using Google Maps. Source: Judith Ruvuna, M. Arch., Assoc. AIA, IDEC, Assoc. IIDA., Assistant Professor Interior Design, University of the Incarnate Word.

Source: Data about water use during the baseline and performance periods is from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS).


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.