| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78.59 |
| Liaison | Beverley Ayeni |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
University of Toronto Mississauga
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 5.00 |
Minali
Giani Sustainability Intern Facilities Management and Planning |
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 | 236,147.19 Cubic meters | 239,695 Cubic meters |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 235,240.75 Cubic meters | 239,695 Cubic meters |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
A baseline of 2011 was chosen because this is the earliest we have water data for.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,686 | 1,468 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 10 | 7 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 58 | 53 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 14,515 | 9,959 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,292 | 987 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,094 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 20.43 Cubic meters | 27.77 Cubic meters |
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 | 219,056.15 Gross square meters | 185,924.82 Gross square meters |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 1.07 Cubic meters per square meter | 1.29 Cubic meters per square meter |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 75.09 Hectares | 78.41 Hectares |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 3,144.86 Cubic meters per hectare | 3,056.94 Cubic meters per hectare |
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:
UTM has multiple initiatives in regard to water-related change initiatives. Apart from just the collection of rainwater from UTM’s underground cistern for irrigation and flushing toilets across campus, UTM has implemented a bottled water ban. Bottled water is no longer available for sale at UTM and to ensure that community members have access to drinking water, UTM has installed/upgraded a total of 20 water fountains across campus with bottle filling spouts. 50% of all campus fountains have the ability to refill water bottles, with there being at least one bottle filling station in each building.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/transforming-our-campus/water
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
UTM has many on-going projects to reduce the amount of potable water used in campus buildings to try and improve recovery, quantity, quality and reusing for rainwater. Some of these projects are the low-flow fixtures that are integrated within many of UTM’s new buildings, rainwater harvesting systems in buildings like the Instructional Building, Deerfield Hall, Health Sciences Complex, and Maanjiwe nendamowinan. This collection of rainwater is recovered and reused for irrigation and toilet flushing. Apart from this, we have green roofs that have planted vegetation to improve both stormwater management across UTM buildings such as the C Communication Culture & Technology Building (CCT), Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC), and the Innovation Complex. There is also a reduction of water usage in the Central Utilities Plant.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
UTM has implemented a series of water-efficient initiatives focused on replacing plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems. The Instructional Centre had a 42 percent reduction in water usage compared to conventional buildings through the installation of low-flow fixtures. Similarly, the Health Sciences Complex has achieved a 65 percent reduction in water consumption. This reduction is attributed to the use of low-flow fixtures and the incorporation of a large underground cistern that collects rainwater. The collected rainwater serves the dual purpose of irrigation and toilet flushing within the complex.
Deerfield Hall has a low-flow plumbing fixture, which greatly reduces water use in the building as compared to a conventional building.
Maanjiwe nendamowinan is extremely water-efficient, using 88 percent less potable water than a conventional building. It alos has a rainwater reuse system, with a capacity of 20,000 gallons which is used for irrigation and toilet flushing.
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 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.