Overall Rating	Platinum
Overall Score	85.74
Liaison	Mike Wilson
Submission Date	Dec. 13, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Victoria
OP-21: Water Use

Status

Score

Responsible Party

4.00 / 4.00

David Adams
Energy Manager
Facilities Management

"---" 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:

Low to Medium

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal	119,730,963 Gallons	175,893,648.32 Gallons

Potable water use:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Potable water use	119,730,963 Gallons	175,893,648.32 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):

	Start Date	End Date
Performance Period	Jan. 20, 2022	Jan. 19, 2023
Baseline Period	Jan. 1, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010

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:

N/A

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site	3,095	2,240
Number of employees resident on-site	0	0
Number of other individuals resident on-site	84	0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment	19,148	16,975
Full-time equivalent of employees	4,019	4,982
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education	2,530	1,800
Weighted campus users	16,335.50	15,677.75

Potable water use per weighted campus user:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user	7,329.49 Gallons	11,219.32 Gallons

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

34.67

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	4,363,633.73 Gross square feet	3,854,939 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area	27.44 Gallons per square foot	45.63 Gallons per square foot

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

39.87

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

Area of vegetated grounds:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds	124.50 Acres	124.50 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds	961,694.48 Gallons per acre	1,412,800.39 Gallons per acre

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

31.93

Optional Fields

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

UVic has undertaken a comprehensive set of water-related behavior change initiatives aimed at reducing water consumption and promoting sustainable practices. Recent activities include the installation of sensor faucets and low-flow toilets in numerous buildings, promoting efficient water usage. Furthermore, the implementation of a computer-controlled state-of-the-art irrigation system, coupled with reduced irrigation during summer months, showcases a commitment to responsible water management.

A notable initiative involves the treatment of wastewater from the Outdoor Aquatic Facility, recycling it for use in toilets and urinals across eight campus buildings. This innovative approach results in substantial water savings, totaling over 4.5 million liters of potable water annually. The institution has also implemented an Integrated Stormwater Management plan on campus, emphasizing a holistic approach to water conservation.

In laboratory settings, the institution has replaced old water aspirators with portable electric vacuum pumps in chemistry labs, contributing to reduced water consumption. Additionally, the installation of condensing units in walk-in freezers and coolers at the Student Union Building has replaced once-through cooling units, resulting in significant water savings equivalent to the volume of nine Olympic swimming pools each year.

A commitment to water efficiency is evident in the institution's construction practices, where all new buildings incorporate low-flow water fixtures for faucets and showers. Moreover, the utilization of a non-potable water recovery system for toilets and the ongoing effort to eliminate 'once-through' water cooling systems across campus underscore a dedication to sustainable water use.

To further enhance water conservation, the institution continues to target the implementation of low-flow retrofits for fixtures, such as faucets and showers, across the campus. This multifaceted approach demonstrates the institution's proactive stance in fostering a water-conscious community and aligns with broader environmental stewardship goals.

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

UVic has a grey water system in place that treats water from the Outdoor Aquatics Research Facility with ozone and chlorine that serves the heat pump condenser in one building (ECS), and also serves the toilet and urinal flushing in eight other campus buildings through a separate plumbing system. The grey water fills a tank that is pressurized and supplies the fixtures. If the grey water is not keeping up with demand, the tank is filled with city water to make up the difference.

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

See description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives above.

Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:

http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/water/index.php

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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