Campus Water:Consumption and Conservation

9 June 2015

Town Hall

Agenda• State and local challenges: supply,

demand and regulations

• Campus consumption trends

• Utility plant usage

• Domestic usage

• Irrigation usage

• Conservation options

9 June 2015

Water Conservation Resource Fair

11am – 1pmGlanville Courtyard

2

Outcomes• Increased awareness

• Understand how Caltech is responding to State and local regulations?

• What additional actions should be taken in response to this challenge?

• Be vigilant – report issues & suggestionscomments/suggestions:

sustainability@caltech.edu

report leaks/maintenance issues:access.caltech.edu (Facilities Service Request)

9 June 20153

9 June 20154

Statewide Annual Water Use

Wild Rivers (23 MAF)

Agriculture (34 MAF)

Urban(9 MAF)

Other Environmental

(14 MAF)

industrial & commercial (2.4)

all other crops (~7)

lettuce (1.3)grapes (1.6)

fruit (2)

cotton (2.3)

corn (1.7)

almonds (2.1)

rice (2.7)pasture (3.3)alfalfa (5.3)

recreational rivers (7.2)

Sacramento Delta (5.6)

wetlands (1.6)

0.0006 MAF

1 acre foot = 325,853 gallons

0.032 MAF

Adapted from S. Alexander http://slatestarcodex.com/2015/05/11/california-water-you-doing/

6.6 MAFfocus of current state restrictions

80million

acre feet(MAF)

Pasadena

Caltech

domestic uses (2.8)irrigation (3.8)

(approximate capacity of the Braun pool)

5

Pasadena Water Sources

40%local groundwater & surface diversions 60%

Colorado River Aqueduct from MWD

Caltech = 2% of Pasadena water consumption

Raymond Basin1 MAF Capacity

Arroyo SecoEaton Canyon

2014 SourcesWater delivery from the Sate Water Project

(historically 20%) is currently restricted

9 June 20156

Regulatory Timeline1 April

Governor issues Executive Order B-29-15 mandates 25% reduction in potable urban water use statewide with a focus on potable water use in residential irrigation

5 MayState Water Resources Control Board adopts mandatory water conservation regulationsrequired PWP to reduce potable urban water use by 28% from 2013 baseline

1 JunePasadena Water & Power implements local water use restrictions to achieve 28% reductionLevel 2 water restrictions + additional measures are currently inforce

? Additional restrictions may be implemented based on progress toward 28% goal

9 June 20157

Pasadena Water Shortage LevelsWater Shortage Level Description Implementation Year

Level 1summer irrigation:winter irrigation:leak repair:

3 days/week1 day/week72 hrs

July 2014

Level 2

summer irrigation:winter irrigation:leak repair:ornamental ponds:

2 days/week1 day/week48 hrsempty

June 2015

Level 3

summer irrigation:winter irrigation:leak repair:ornamental ponds:

1 days/week1 day/week36 hrsempty

August 2015

(if 15% reduction not achieved by 31 July)

Level 4

summer irrigation:winter irrigation:leak repair:ornamental ponds:pools:water service:

no irrigationno irrigation24 hrsemptyemptyno new service

unknown

9 June 20158

Current Pasadena Restrictions• Outdoor watering 2 days per week on Tuesday and Saturday

(exemptions: drip irrigation systems or systems emitting less than 2 gals/hr)• No water outdoors between 9am – 6pm except with hose with shutoff nozzle• No watering during rain and 48 hours after rain• No excessive water flow onto pavement or gutters• No washing down paved surfaces unless for safety and sanitation• No washing vehicles except with hose with shutoff nozzle• No filling of ornamental fountains, lakes or ponds• Leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of receiving a notice from PWP• Restaurants may not serve drinking water unless by patron’s request• Restaurants must use water saving dish spray valves• Hotels must give guest the option to decline daily linen changes• No installation of single pass cooling systems• All master-metered multifamily properties must install low-flow showerheads and

aerators

9 June 20159

Residential Gallons per Capita Day (R-GPCD)

Region R-GPCD & % Reduction:Los Angeles 91 16%Glendale 107 20%South Pasadena 131 28%Altadena 137 28%Pasadena 139 28%San Marino 157 28%Sierra Madre 214 32%Arcadia 318 36%La Canada 401 36%

State Water Resources Control Board Appropriate

Indoor Water Use:

55 R-GPCD

9 June 201510

Campus Consumption Trends

2014water cost:$1.1M

-

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

gallo

ns (m

illion

s)

fiscal year

central & satellite plants building domestic irrigation

$5.80/1,000 gals

200,000,000 gallons could cover the campus in 5 feet of water

37%

9 June 201511

2014 Campus Usage200M gallons

building cooling

+power

generation

*blowdown is the discharge of water with high mineral concentration to control water chemistry

*

9 June 201512

Domestic UsageAdministration &

Auxiliaries• Plumbing fixtures• Kitchen appliances• Student housing• Gymnasiums• Water features

Laboratories• Lab equipment• Research water (DI/RO)• Single pass cooling• Cage washers• Drain quench

Typical office(130 sqft)

1ᵒ 390 gals/yr

Typical lab(400 sqft)

1ᵒ 7600 gals/yr

Space Cooling / Water Nexus

≈ ≈

9 June 201513

LEED* Buildings• 10% of campus sqft (9 buildings)• 30% more water efficient than code• Installed recycled water infrastructure

(purple pipe)• Climate adapted landscape• Storm water management• L+R: 40,000 gal cistern for irrigation

*Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design 9 June 201514

Campus Water FeaturesWater Feature Capacity

(gallons) Empty Notes

Braun pool 371,300 recirculating, filter backflush

Alumni pool 253,100 recirculating, filter backflush

Millikan reflecting pool 40,000 Y recirculating

Throop pond 34,100 recirculating, biological habitat

Beckman Behavior Biology pond 22,400 non-recirculating, biological habitat

Beckman Institute gene pool 20,000 Y recirculating

Baxter pond 16,700 non-recirculating, biological habitat

Watson Lab fountain 13,500 Y recirculating

Beckman Auditorium fountains 2,000 Y non-recirculating, fill & drain for events

Athletics spa 1,500 recirculating, filter backflush

SUG courtyard fountain 600 Y recirculating, currently empty

Linde+Robinson California Blvd fountain 600 recirculating, recycled water from cistern

Linde+Robinson Perception fountain 500 Y recirculating

Beckman Institute courtyard fountain 500 Y recirculating

Moore Lab fountains 300 Y recirculating

Parsons Gates, Dabney, 415 S. Hill, Athenaeum 200 Y recirculating

Total 777,300

Water Use: 1 square foot of pool/pond = 1 square foot of lawn(California Urban Water Conservation Council)15

Landscape Irrigation - Perception

Princeton University

Arizona State University

vs9 June 201516

Landscape Irrigation - Perception

17

Land Use Portfolio

125 acres

5%vegetated (non turf)

fescue(Olive Walk)

bermuda(Beckman

Institute lawn)

uc verde buffalo(Annenberg)

high water use turf = 20gal/sf/yr

low water use turf = 15gal/sf/yr

39%hardscape

22%building footprint

34%turf cover

26%high water

use turf

74%low water use turf

9 June 201518

Campus Trees• 2900 trees on campus• 570 (20%) require regular watering:

– Coast redwoods, Chinese elm, Tipuana, Magnolias, Ficus, Mexican fan palm

• 158 Redwoods– 5 dead, to be removed (Catalina, Braun,

Steele, Watson)

Conservation Actions• Mulching• Supplemental watering• Application of fertilizer and fungicides

9 June 201519

Utility Plant Conservation OptionsAutomated water chemistry control & testing(pilot underway)

Industrial waste water treatment & recycling(reuse in plant or for irrigation)

Cooling tower improvements (efficiency upgrades)

DI/RO system replacement & upgrade

Steam condensate return(upgrade in progress)

Campus chilled water loop(reduce tower load through interconnection)

Campus repowering(reassess generation & utility system)Central Plant cooling towers

9 June 201520

Domestic Conservation Options

Empty campus water features(excluding ponds with biota)

Change temperature set points (1ᵒ = 3-19 gals/sqft/yr)

Fixture replacement(expand retrofit program)

Building Condensate capture(new reclaimed water system)

Grey water treatment & reuse(on-site treatment & storage)

Lab single pass cooling(chilled water NESLAB upgrade)

9 June 201521

Irrigation Conservation OptionsStop non-essential irrigation(tree preservation required)

Landscape conversion(expedite per landscape master plan)

Athletic turf replacement(improved playability)

22

Water Conservation ProjectsProject Timing Relative Cost Relative Water Savings

Empty campus water features ImmediateChange temperature set-points 1ᵒ F ImmediateAutomated water chemistry control & testing ImmediateEliminate non-essential turf irrigation ImmediateCover athletic pools Short-termReplace lab single pass cooling Short-termFixture replacement Short-termTurf conversion Short-termPool filter water treatment and recycling Medium-termCooling tower improvements Medium-termDI/RO system upgrades Medium-termAthletic turf replacement Medium-termBuilding condensate capture Long-termIndustrial waste water treatment & recycling Long-termGrey water treatment & reuse Long-termSteam condensate return Long-termCampus chilled water loop Long-termCampus repowering Long-term

< $250K$250K - $1M$1M - $5M> $5M

< 50K Gallons/Year50K - 1M G/Y1M - 5M G/Y> 5M G/Y

/ Acre / Acre

/ Acre/ Acre

Discussion

sustainability.caltech.edu

9 June 201524

Turf Valuation

acres of turf eliminated since 2006

6

9 June 201525

Braun Pool Renovation

9 June 201526

Campus Pilot Projects

SkyWellatmospheric water generator

CoolPlanetbiochar soil amendment

9 June 201527