Stanford water conservation measures expanded

University policies now in place limit irrigation using potable – meaning drinkable – water to two days per week. Irrigators using non-potable water have been asked to make 25 percent reductions and already are achieving measurable results.

Provost John Etchemendy, while praising the water conservation efforts of faculty, staff and students, has issued a call for everyone – including users of both potable and non-potable water – to do even more this summer.

hand holding a sprayer to water lawn

Stanford is meeting state water conservation obligations by limiting irrigation with potable water to two days per week and is further reducing its non-potable water use in irrigation by at least 25 percent. (Image credit: Maksud/Shutterstock)

His call is in response to the State Water Resources Control Board’s recent water conservation regulations, issued as a result of California’s prolonged and continuing drought. The new regulations require institutional water users such as Stanford to either reduce potable water use by 25 percent compared with the same months in 2013 or limit irrigation with potable water on ornamental landscapes and lawns to two days per week.

Stanford will meet its obligations by limiting irrigation with potable water to twice weekly. But it is also going an extra mile by reducing its non-potable water use in irrigation by at least 25 percent throughout campus. Among the departments already achieving measurable results are the Stanford Golf Course, Residential and Dining Enterprises (R&DE), Athletics and the Grounds Services Group.

Non-potable water

Although not required by the state to do so, campus irrigators who use non-potable water have begun reduction and efficiency projects. The drought has drastically reduced Stanford’s surface water supplies – the source of much of its non-potable water. The 25 percent reduction requested by the provost is designed to ensure that the university can continue to “bank” rather than use groundwater as a hedge against continuing drought.

According to Tom Zigterman, director of water resources and civil infrastructure, the Golf Course and the Department of Athletics and Physical Education have reduced irrigated grass areas. R&DE and Grounds are installing weather-based controllers and other irrigation system efficiency improvements.

In fact, according to Grounds Manager Ted Tucholski, the Grounds Services Group has already achieved the 25 percent reduction goal set by the provost and is seeking to exceed it. Grounds implemented a twice-weekly watering schedule across campus beginning in January. The group uses a landscape water management system that receives weather data daily and adjusts the irrigation schedule accordingly.

At the Stanford Golf Course, 27.5 of the 110 course acres are no longer being irrigated, according to General Manager Shannon Donlon. More than 350 sprinklers that water the periphery – or “rough” – of each hole have been turned off. The golf course, which is exploring installation of a more efficient irrigation system, had already achieved a water consumption reduction of 10 percent in 2014.

Stanford Athletics has reduced the areas it irrigates and has creatively engaged coaches and trainers to diminish wear on playing fields. Coaches are asked to move athletes around fields, rather than to concentrate practices and exercises in one area. Those areas are then watered with hoses rather than irrigation equipment.

Last year, the department achieved a more than 12 percent water savings and expects to exceed that amount this year, especially because construction has eliminated the need to irrigate Sand Hill Road playing fields.

Athletics has also stopped watering other areas, including the hillsides around the softball field and the lawns in front of Maples Pavilion. Rusty Brummer, director of athletic facilities services, said the department is also experimenting on the Elliott Practice Field with technology that allows grass to draw and retain more moisture from the air, reducing the amount of irrigation needed.

R&DE is upgrading its irrigation equipment across Student Housing’s 57 acres, according to Rodger Whitney, chief housing officer. The project, which involves more than 20,000 pieces of equipment, will save an estimated 33 million gallons of water per year, or a 46 percent reduction.

Potable water savings

R&DE has also aimed at reducing potable water usage through the installation of low-use water fixtures in residences over the past several years. Older fixtures in Row houses are being replaced. The project will be finished by the end of the year and will result in an additional savings of 1 million gallons of potable water per year.

The university also expects to achieve considerable reductions in the use of potable water as a result of limiting irrigation of campus lawns and ornamental landscapes. The regulations are very similar to those instituted last year. Irrigation using potable water is restricted to Tuesday and Saturday nights for even-numbered addresses and Wednesday and Sunday night for odd-numbered addresses and areas without addresses between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Other state regulations that the university is following include, for instance, a prohibition on the use of hoses to wash cars unless the hoses are fitted with shut-off nozzles. Potable water cannot be used to wash driveways, sidewalks and asphalt or to run fountains or decorative water features unless the water is re-circulated. The state has also prohibited serving drinking water unless requested at eating establishments.