| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.63 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
Western Kentucky University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.00 / 5.00 |
Madeline
Petty Graduate Assistant Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences |
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 | 105,624,544 Gallons | 269,844,888 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 105,624,544 Gallons | 269,844,888 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2008 | June 30, 2009 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
It is not a formally adopted baseline, however it has served as the baseline for AASHE STARS reporting since our first submission. WKU Facilities Management tracks utility use including water, so use data is always readily available.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,417 | 4,393 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 21 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 12,256 | 15,951 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,991.33 | 2,453 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,638.70 | 499 |
| Weighted campus users | 10,565.97 | 14,527 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 9,996.67 Gallons | 18,575.40 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 | 5,764,345 Gross square feet | 4,743,844 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 18.32 Gallons per square foot | 56.88 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 165 Acres | 220 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 640,148.75 Gallons per acre | 1,226,567.67 Gallons per acre |
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:
In 2016, WKU began installing building level water metering to enable better measurement and benchmarking. We are now able to determine areas of high water use, detect possible leaks, and develop goals for water use reduction.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Several rainwater harvesting systems have been installed at WKU. At three sites on the main campus, and one site at the WKU farm, rainwater is collected from rooftops into large cisterns. On campus, one of two 550 gallon cisterns is located near the Department of Facilities Management and the other is at the Health Services building. The water from the cisterns is dispersed to drip lines that irrigate local gardens. At the Dept. of Facilities Management maintenance barn at South Street, six 2,600 gallon cisterns collect water off the barn roof, which is used to fill an irrigation truck for campus trees and gardens. On the Farm, two 1300 gallon cisterns collect water from the livestock barn roof. This water is for many uses, including spraying down the Expo Center arena floor to reduce dust.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
WKU entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Johnson Controls Inc. in 2009. WKU’s ESPC lead to $9.7 million in energy reducing and facility improvements. Thirty-eight existing buildings were equipped with 2,114 water saving fixtures. In 2019, WKU discontinued their contract with Johnson Controls in order to cut costs.
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:
Water data use obtained from Amy Comer, Department of Facilities Management. The spreadsheet detailing water use by location is attached for verification and consistency in future reporting.
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.