UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
April 2014
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
April 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................................... 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 4
I. POLICY CONTEXT ........................................................................................................................................ 5
II. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER SUPPLY................................................................................................................ 6
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................................... 6
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.................................................................................................................... 7
III. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER USE AND HISTORIC DROUGHT RESPONSIVENESS ............................................. 9
WATER USE ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 3.1: Davis Campus 2013 Water Use ............................................................................................... 9
Table 3.2: Water Production (Use) in Million-Gallons/Year: .................................................................. 10
Figure 3.3: Per-Capita Campus Water Use in Gallons/Person/Day ........................................................ 10
HISTORIC DROUGHT RESPONSIVENESS .................................................................................................. 10
Figure 3.4: Davis Campus Water Use in Relation to Historical Droughts ............................................... 11
Figure 3.5: Davis Campus Per Capita Water Use Relative to Historic Droughts ..................................... 12
IV. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER CONSERVATION ACTIONS TO DATE ................................................................ 13
V. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER USE REDUCTION STRATEGIES........................................................................... 15
Table 5.1: Water Use Reduction Strategies ............................................................................................ 16
VI. NEXT STEPS ............................................................................................................................................ 28
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PRINCIPAL AUTHOR: Camille Kirk, Assistant Director of Sustainability
ASSISTING AUTHOR: David Phillips, Director of Utilities
CONTRIBUTORS AND REVIEWERS:
Campus Planning and Community Resources:
Cary Avery, Associate Director
Andrew Fulks, Putah Creek Manager
Katie Hetrick, Senior Writer
Robert Segar, Assistant Vice Chancellor
Center for Water-Energy Efficiency:
Frank Loge, Director and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Design and Construction Management:
Ardie Dehghani, Director of Engineering
Gary Dahl, Director of Project Management-Major Capital Projects
Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability:
Sid England, Assistant Vice Chancellor
Facilities Management:
Jim Bartlett, Superintendent, Plumbing/Steam Systems
Cynthia Kranc, Director
Josh Morejohn, Manager
Safety Services, Environmental Health and Safety:
Lisa Moretti, Environmental Specialist-Stormwater
Student Housing:
Jenni Porter, Sustainability Coordinator
Michael Sheehan, Director
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UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
April 2014
INTRODUCTION
California is considered by the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) to be in a historic and
severe drought. While it is difficult to define a drought, there are a few metrics of note at this time. The
Sierra Nevada snowpack, the state’s largest “reservoir,” is classified by the DWR as being at 35% of
normal during this water year (October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014), with the Central Sierra section
faring slightly better at 41% of normal 1. The previous two years have also seen the snowpack and rainfall
much lower than normal, which means that recharge rates for surface water and reservoir supplies have
suffered. As the majority of the state’s precipitation occurs during December, January and February, it is
now looking less likely the state will have normal precipitation during the current water year, though it is
still possible. However, a normal precipitation year would not be enough to lift the state out of the
current conditions of low soil moisture and low reservoir storage conditions. It would take a wet year for
many of the state’s water users to have access to the amount of water supply they have had in past
years. The DWR forecasting model does not predict a late wet year, or even a late normal year.
On January 17, 2014, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. declared a drought state of emergency,
directed state officials, and California’s citizens, to take actions to conserve water and reduce water use
by 20%. UC Davis has taken this call to heart, and has developed this Drought Response Action Plan,
which serves as a Water Action Plan to reduce water use through both drought-term (contemporaneous
with the drought) and long-term (permanent) actions.
The Davis campus has access to surface water and groundwater resources. The campus primarily uses
groundwater, pumped via wells from aquifers of various depths, for campus water supplies. Given the
depth and characteristics of campus domestic water supply wells, campus potable water supplies will
not likely be significantly impacted unless the drought extends over many years. Utility, irrigation and
agricultural supply wells draw from shallower depths and may be affected sooner, and campus
groundwater levels, especially in the shallower depths, will likely drop due to the drought as surface
water supplies become less available and regional groundwater pumping increases. While groundwater
supplies have not yet been impacted by the drought, the campus nonetheless plans an aggressive water
conservation response to demonstrate leadership in water management issues.
This plan briefly describes water systems and historic water use at the Davis campus, summarizes
ongoing water management practices that have kept campus water use nearly constant since the 1970s,
and describes the Davis campus response to the current California drought. The goal of the plan is to
propose a set of quickly implementable actions to strive for a 20% reduction in water use (from 2013)
during the drought state of emergency. A number of the actions are expected to be maintained only
through the drought to achieve short-term water savings; others are expected to be maintained longterm and achieve enduring water savings. The actions cover Operations, Dining Services, Landscape
Management, Research and Agricultural Water Use, Communication/Behavior Education/Outreach,
Utilities Infrastructure, and New Construction and Renovations.
The Drought Response Action Plan covers the Davis campus. Davis campus staff have worked with
Sacramento medical center staff, as the Sacramento staff develop a separate, but complementary, plan
due to the separate water supply systems and different constraints related to operating a hospital.
1
California Department of Water Resources, Snow Water Equivalents (inches), accessed 4 April 2014,
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/snowapp/sweq.action
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UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
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I. POLICY CONTEXT
•
The UC Policy on Sustainable Practices was expanded to include the Sustainable Water Systems
section in August 2013. UC Davis was very involved in creating the policy language, with a
Sustainable Water Systems Working Group co-chaired by Frank Loge, Professor in Civil and
Environmental Engineering and Director of the Center for Water-Energy Efficiency. The two primary
water-related goals require that:
(1) each campus strive to reduce potable water consumption, adjusted for population growth, by
20% by 2020, against a campus-selected baseline;
STATUS: UC Davis has already exceeded this goal, as campus water use has remained relatively
flat during recent campus growth.
(2) each campus is to develop and maintain a Water Action Plan that identifies long term strategies
for achieving sustainable water systems.
STATUS: This drought response action plan serves as the current Davis campus water action
plan, and articulates water savings measures. UC Davis will develop a long-term water action
plan in tandem with the new Long Range Development Plan and LRDP Environmental Impact
Report and next Climate Action Plan update. The expected completion date of the long-term
plan is mid to late 2015.
•
President Janet Napolitano’s January 16, 2014 letter to the UC Chancellors publically
acknowledged the new policy goal of a 20% reduction by 2020.
STATUS: No additional actions required.
•
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency on January 17, 2014, and
in a proclamation of a state of emergency requested that state agencies execute a statewide water
conservation campaign and work with Californians to achieve a 20% reduction in water use.
STATUS: Historically, UC campuses have initiated good-faith efforts to comply with similar
proclamations. UC Davis developed the DRAP with this goal in mind.
•
The Associated Students of University of California, Davis Senate Resolution #16, passed on
February 20, 2014, expresses support for a Drought Action Plan and encourages additional efforts
around communication regarding water conservation.
STATUS: UC Davis administrators, including John Meyer, Vice Chancellor of Administrative and
Resource Management received this resolution. The authors of this plan appreciate the student
support of a Drought Response Action Plan, and are working with students to communicate
about water conservation actions, both at the campus level and at the personal level.
•
President Janet Napolitano’s March 24, 2014 letter to the UC Chancellors called on campuses to
strive to reduce water use through a set of specific actions mentioned in the letter. President
Napolitano did not request campuses each meet a 20% savings goal. UC Davis, however, is striving
to meet a 20% water use reduction during the drought.
STATUS: Preparation of this plan and documentation of water conservation actions taken
demonstrates the efforts of the Davis campus to meet the Governor’s office and President
Napolitano’s requests.
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II. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER SUPPLY
The following background, which is drawn from the 2003 Long Range Development Plan Environmental
Impact Report and shortened for use in this document, briefly characterizes the campus water supply.
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES
The UC Davis campus is located in the 27,000-square-mile Sacramento River Basin. The basin is bounded
by the Coast Ranges to the west, the Cascade Range and Trinity Mountains to the north, the Sierra
Nevada to the east, and the Delta-Central Sierra to the south. The principal waterways in the basin
include the Sacramento River and its principal tributaries: the American, Bear, Feather, Pit, and Yuba
Rivers originating from east, and the Cache, Cottonwood, Putah, and Stoney Creeks originating from the
west. The U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) further divides the Sacramento River Basin into smaller basins, or
watersheds. The UC Davis campus is located in the Lower Sacramento watershed, USGS Cataloging Unit
18020109.
Putah Creek is the principal waterway in the Davis area. The waterway originates from springs on Cobb
Mountain, which is part of the Mayacamas Mountains located on the western edge of Lake and Napa
counties. The upper watershed flows southeast into Lake Berryessa. From Lake Berryessa’s Monticello
Dam, Putah Creek flows east to the Putah Diversion Dam. Below the diversion point, the waterway flows
through Winters, along the southern boundary of Russell Ranch, along the southern boundary of UC
Davis’ west and south campuses, and eventually into the Yolo Bypass, an overflow channel for the
Sacramento River.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation holds the rights to water stored behind Monticello Dam and water
diverted at the Putah Diversion Dam. The Bureau sells this “Solano Project” water to the Solano County
Water Agency (SCWA). UC Davis is a member of the Solano Project, and currently has rights to purchase
4,000 acre-feet of water from the SCWA per year, although reductions in deliveries can occur during
drought conditions. The water is delivered to the southwest corner of the campus via an underground
pipeline. An average of approximately 3,296 acre-feet of this Solano Project water has been delivered to
the campus per year. Based on annual average usage rates over this timeframe, approximately 10
percent of Solano Project water supplies aquaculture research and 90 percent is used for field irrigation.
UC Davis also has access to surface water from Putah and Cache Creeks.
The North Fork Cutoff on the west campus (which traverses from SR 113 to the South Fork of Putah
Creek) and the UC Davis Arboretum Waterway (which traverses the southern edge of the central
campus) follow the historic channel of Putah Creek, but currently have no natural flow. The South Fork
of Putah Creek was constructed in the 1870s to protect the Davis area community from flooding. In
1948, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) constructed levees along the South Fork from the
historic North Fork to the Yolo Bypass. The North Fork Cutoff is a typically dry stream channel. The
Arboretum Waterway serves as the storm water detention basin for the central campus.
In 1994, a water rights application was filed with the California Department of Water Resources for a
surface water supply from the Sacramento River to serve UC Davis and the City of Davis. In 2000, the
City of Davis and UC Davis received a grant from the State of California to prepare a water supply
feasibility study analyzing the feasibility of bringing this surface water to the city and the campus for
domestic uses. The feasibility report was completed in September 2002. Davis and Woodland are
building infrastructure to bring this surface water supply to their respective cities; the campus is
continuing to evaluate participation in this project.
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GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
The aquifers underlying the campus are within sand and gravel alluvial deposits that were generated
over time by Putah and Cache creeks and the Sacramento River. The campus draws water from the deep
aquifer to serve domestic and fire protection needs, and from intermediate depth aquifers to serve
landscape irrigation, utility and agricultural needs.
Deep Aquifer. The deep gravel and sand aquifer underlies the campus between 600 to 1,500 feet below
ground surface (bgs). Six campus wells tap into the deep aquifer at depths between approximately 1,360
and 1,470 feet bgs to supply the campus domestic/fire system. This system serves campus buildings,
cooling and heating systems, and limited landscape irrigation in the west and south campuses (where
the campus utility water system does not extend). The majority of campus domestic water use is for
research and cooling/heating systems, as opposed to individual use.
Due to a lack of information about deep aquifer features, the campus commissioned a detailed
hydrogeologic examination in 2003 (Luhdorff and Scalmanini 2003 2). This study relied on geologic and
water resource reports, planning studies, historical records, and other documents to form a
conceptualization of the deep aquifer, including its extent, recharge and discharge sources, flow
direction, and connectivity with the intermediate aquifer. The study identified that the sand and gravel
materials that comprise the deep aquifer in the Davis area can be divided into three relatively
discontinuous regions, each deposited by a different source. Deep aquifer sands under east Davis
appear to have originated from the east toward the Sierra Nevada. Sands under central Davis and the
eastern portion of the UC Davis campus may have been deposited by Cache Creek or its predecessor.
Deep aquifer deposits under the western portion of the UC Davis campus may be derived from the west
or northwest.
The study’s examination of water level data for wells completed in the deep aquifer in the Davis area
suggest that historical pumping has not exceeded sources of recharge. Conditions appear stable over the
past 20 years for which water level data were available. The deep aquifer system has not exhibited
overdraft or exceed the ability to reliably supply groundwater at historical levels. The period of record
has included drought conditions (late 1980s) and relatively minor fluctuations in local pumping
demands. In addition, there has been no degradation of groundwater quality over this period.
Shallow/Intermediate Aquifers. Shallow/intermediate depth sand and gravel aquifers underlie the
campus at depths from 150 to 800 feet bgs. On the main campus, six wells draw water from
intermediate depth aquifers to supply the campus utility water system, 21 wells draw from these
aquifers to supply main campus agricultural water needs (including aquaculture and field irrigation), and
12 wells are installed into these aquifers at the Russell Ranch to serve campus irrigation needs.
The campus utility water system supplies water for central campus landscape irrigation, greenhouse use,
and some laboratory use. Utility water demand on campus has declined by approximately 30 percent
since 1989, primarily as a result of increasingly efficient landscape watering practices.
The water levels of the shallow/intermediate aquifers are influenced by local and regional precipitation,
runoff, recharge, hydrogeology, and pumping. Water levels in the intermediate depth aquifer vary
seasonally and strongly correlate to precipitation. A generally upward recharge trend has occurred over
the period from 1957 to 2002. Current well water levels are actually higher than those observed in the
20 years prior to the 1976-77 drought. Examination of water level data by Lundorff and Scalmanini for
2
Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers. 2003. Hydrogeologic Conceptualization of the Deep Aquifer, Davis
Area, California. Prepared for UC Davis.
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wells completed in the intermediate aquifer in the Davis area suggest that historical pumping has not
exceeded source of recharge. The intermediate aquifer system has not exhibited overdraft or exceeded
the ability to reliably supply groundwater at historical levels. The period of record has included drought
conditions (late 1980s) and relatively minor fluctuations in local pumping demands. However, the
Lundorff and Scalmanini report also identified that a potential consequence of increased intermediate
aquifer groundwater extraction in the Davis area is that groundwater levels might decrease below
historic levels. If this were to occur, water levels may reach a new equilibrium between extraction and
recharge or continue to decline reflecting a net deficit in the overall groundwater budget (Lundorff and
Scalmanini 2003).
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III. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER USE AND HISTORIC DROUGHT
RESPONSIVENESS
WATER USE
The Davis campus uses water in many areas of campus operations and academic research. Figure 3.1
demonstrates the allocation of the water used by the Davis campus. Table 3.2 accounts the campus’
water use for 2013.
Figure 3.1: Davis Campus 2013 Water Use
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Table 3.2: Water Production (Use) in Million-Gallons/Year:
Supply Name
Domestic Wells
Utility Wells
Fisheries Wells
Source
Deep Aquifer
Intermediate
Aquifer
Intermediate
Aquifer
Primary Uses
Potable uses, fire
hydrants,
laboratories,
cooling towers
Landscape
irrigation
Watershed
Sciences &
CABA research
2013 Use
(Mgal/Year)
Percentage of
2013 Total
Water Use
20% Reduction
(Mgal/Year)
Ag Water System
Surface Water
(Berryessa) &
Shallow Aquifer
Wells
Campus Totals
Agricultural
irrigation
715
336
393
818
32%
15%
17%
36%
143
67
79
164
2,262
452
Further analysis will be required to determine if each category of water use can and should reduce by 20
percent.
While UC Davis enrollment has nearly tripled since 1969, the campus is using about the same amount of
water as it did in the 1970s. That result is due to copious effort, often in response to previous droughts,
to reduce water consumption throughout our operations. Figure 3.3 documents the decline in per capita
use over the past 20 years.
Figure 3.3: Per-Capita Campus Water Use in Gallons/Person/Day
Students+Faculty+Staff Population / Domestic+Landscape Irrigation Water Use
(3-year rolling average in gallons per person per day)
110
100
90
100
90
80
63
70
FY12-13
FY11-12
FY10-11
FY09-10
FY08-09
FY07-08
FY06-07
FY05-06
FY04-05
FY03-04
FY02-03
FY01-02
FY00-01
FY99-00
FY98-99
FY97-98
FY96-97
FY95-96
FY94-95
FY93-94
60
FY92-93
Gallons/Person/Day
120
HISTORIC DROUGHT RESPONSIVENESS
The following figures demonstrate water use reductions during previous drought periods. The relatively
recent drought response (2007-2009) suggests that the Davis campus may have less room now to
decrease water use because use has not rebounded to previous levels and West Village occupancy has
brought a new demand on the campus water supply.
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Figure 3.4: Davis Campus Water Use in Relation to Historical Droughts
Davis Campus Water Use in Relation to Historical Droughts
1500
Potable Water & Landscape Irrigation Use (Mgal/Year)
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
Reductions
36%
21%
13%
22%
600
500
Drought Years
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160
0
FY70-71
FY71-72
FY72-73
FY73-74
FY74-75
FY75-76
FY76-77
FY77-78
FY78-79
FY79-80
FY80-81
FY81-82
FY82-83
FY83-84
FY84-85
FY85-86
FY86-87
FY87-88
FY88-89
FY89-90
FY90-91
FY92-92
FY92-93
FY93-94
FY94-95
FY95-96
FY96-97
FY97-98
FY98-99
FY99-00
FY00-01
FY01-02
FY02-03
FY03-04
FY04-05
FY05-06
FY06-07
FY07-08
FY08-09
FY09-10
FY10-11
FY11-12
FY12-13
Gallons/Day/Weighted Campus User
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
151
April 2014
Figure 3.5: Davis Campus Per Capita Water Use Relative to Historic Droughts
Davis Campus Per Capita Water Use Relative to Historic Droughts
3-year Rolling Averages Including Domestic & Irrigation Water Use
180
146
140
127
120
100
100
80
78
63
60
40
20
Drought Years
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IV. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER CONSERVATION ACTIONS TO DATE
As shown, water use has stayed relatively flat over the past 40 years, and on a per-capita basis, campus
water use has been decreasing for many years due to aggressive conservation measures and an ongoing commitment by the campus to use water wisely. Key actions are summarized below.
Design & Construction Management has revised the Campus Standards and Design Guide for new
construction and building renovations to:
•
•
•
•
Eliminate single-pass cooling for laboratory equipment
Meter water use by building for benchmarking
Require low-flow fixtures, ultra-low-flow urinals, and bottle-filling (hydration) stations
Require water-conservative landscaping, water efficient irrigation, and application of heavy mulch to
landscaped areas to reduce evaporation.
Facilities Management has:
•
•
•
•
•
Replaced nearly all single-pass systems in favor of closed-loop systems for equipment cooling
Approximately 1/3rd of the campus fixtures have been replaced with low-flow versions, with retrofits
occurring at the time of fixture breakage or facility remodels/renovations
Student employees in the LEED-EBOM program investigate for leaks and water saving opportunities
in buildings that are part of the LEED-EBOM program (two dorms, two office buildings, one
classroom building, three labs)
Campus cooling towers have been retrofitted with Dolphin valves for water efficiency during
flushing
Most steam condensate leaks have been repaired, and when new ones arise, they are repaired as
quickly as possible.
Grounds and Landscape Services has taken many measures over the last 10 years to reduce campus
landscape water consumption, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Turf reduction and drought-tolerant landscaping installation
Widespread mulching
Aggressive irrigation preventative maintenance
Stormwater swales that collect rainwater
Subsurface turf irrigation at Student Housing facilities, and
The operation of a “smart” central irrigation control system.
Should water use be restricted, priority would focus on keeping the trees and historic plantings alive.
Student Housing has:
•
•
•
Installed low-water use fixtures (faucets, toilets, urinals, showerheads and washing machines)
Switched to cleaning equipment and procedures that reduce water use, and
Conducted communication and education campaigns with residents and staff regarding water
efficiency.
Dining Services has adopted a wide variety of practices, including:
•
•
Instituted trayless dining (thus avoiding washing trays)
Installed low-flow and motion-sensor based pre-rinse nozzles, faucets and handwashing sinks in
kitchens, re-circulating dishroom water troughs and a water-efficient warewashing system
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UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
•
•
•
April 2014
Only performs water-bath thawing in emergencies
Uses cleaning equipment and procedures that reduce water use (such as micro-fiber mops, which
use up to 80% less water than traditional mops)
Uses a linen service provider that is a member of the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program®.
Additional Dining Services practices in the dining commons include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Utilization of waste pulper in all three resident dining facilities that recycles waste water
Defrosting of meats in refrigerators rather than under running water
Avoiding use of running water to melt ice
Washing food in a partially filled sink as opposed to using running water
Using the correct size pots and pans for boiling water to avoid boiling more water than needed
Reporting and repairing leaks and dripping taps immediately
Turning off ice cream scoop wells when not in use, and
Installing air-cooled vs. open looped water cooled Ice makers.
Utilities has undertaken some key actions. Campus central plants accounts for roughly 14 percent of the
total campus-wide domestic water use, and reductions in heating and cooling demands by the campus
result in a proportional decrease in water use.
•
•
Installed a reverse osmosis system with the latest boiler expansion project. The higher quality water
greatly reduced water use in supplying the boilers.
Many building projects implemented under the SEP and plant efficiency upgrades, like the
condensing economizer, have decreased campus water use.
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V. DAVIS CAMPUS WATER USE REDUCTION STRATEGIES
The Davis campus plans a number of water reduction actions, listed in Table 5.1 on the following page.
The actions are planned for implementation with the understanding that some of the actions will be
adopted only during the drought (labeled drought-only), while others may be tested during this
temporary reduction and then permanently adopted if appropriate (labeled to be evaluated), or are
already planned for permanent adoption (labeled long term).
For many of these measures, the amount of water savings is unknown or unmeasurable. In some cases,
savings are unknown because of a lack of metering or means for otherwise measuring the water
consumption of the practice. In other cases, it is because the scale or magnitude of the measure is
unknown, such as with a leak detection program. Generally, measures cost, and do not save, money
because the campus’ pumped groundwater is delivered very inexpensively compared to purchased
water from a municipal utility district.
Water use reduction performance will be measured against 2013 use starting April 2014. The
performance assessment period will therefore be 4/1/2014 – 3/31/2015.
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Table 5.1: Water Use Reduction Strategies
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
OP-1: Reinvigorate formal leak detection
program; Use pilot results to determine if leak
detection is a viable means of reducing water
consumption
Long term
Utilities
Start by August
2014
Unknown
$25,000/
OP-2: Start a program for installing waterefficient restroom fixtures
Long term
Immediate; started
April 2014
117,000
gal/year,
workdays only
(261
days/year) 3
$110,000/year
Actual use
under
assessment
$0/$0 (labor is
simply allocated to
other tasks; no
savings)
PRACTICE
NOTES
Operations
Facilities
Management
Planned replacement minimums of 100
toilets/year and 50 urinals/year. Each toilet
replacement would save 3.22 gal/flush (replacing
an existing 5 gal flush toilet); each urinal
replacement would save 2.50 gal/flush (replacing
an existing 3 gal flush urinal). Funding source
would be through deferred maintenance budget,
as these would be old fixtures that need
replacement. Water savings are calculated using
a very conservative estimate of one flush of each
fixture per day, for work days only.
OP-3: Reduce Fleet washing frequency
Two changes have been implemented in the inbay car wash. The first change took place the first
week of February 2014, and involved reducing the
Drought only
Fleet Services
Immediate; started
February 2014
Unknown
Estimated
$0 savings
3
To give a broader range of potential savings, if the assumption was made of 3 flushes/day, workdays only, water savings could be approximately 350,000 gal/year;
and at 5 flushes/day, workdays only, water savings could be approximately 585,000 gal/year.
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PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
number of vehicles washed. The second change
took place the third week of March 2014, and
involved reducing the number of wash and rinse
cycles programmed into the wash system. While
actual water use in the Fleet Services in-bay
carwash is not known, the EPA’s WaterSense at
Work Best Management Practices for Commercial
and Institutional Facilities 4 estimates 60
gal/vehicle washed. Fleet Services has reduced
the number of vehicles washed by 35/week, or
7/workday. At 261 workdays per year, this
washing frequency reduction would save
approximately 109,620 gallons per year.
OP-4: Prioritize energy related water
conservation, such as SEP or deferred
maintenance projects that result in both energy
and water savings, largely due to reduced
demand for chilled water for cooling
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
savings, using
EPA
information:
109,620
gal/year
Long term
Facilities
Management;
(See footnote
about OP-4 5)
Unknown
Unknown
To be determined
Unknown;
Unknown
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability;
Design and
Construction
Management
OP-4a: Test out temperature band expansion
To be evaluated
Facilities
4
The EPA WaterSense at Work document was accessed electronically on April 9, 2014, pp179-180 :
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/commercial/docs/watersense_at_work/files/assets/basic-html/page179.html
5
Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability and Facilities Management are proposing a class project in the spring quarter 2014 ESP167 class taught by Dr. Joan
Ogden to develop a water-savings factor for energy efficiency projects. ESS and FM staff will work with the students and with Dr. Frank Loge, Director of the Center
for Water-Energy Efficiency, to develop the savings factor, and then use the factor to evaluate projects.
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PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
during the drought state of emergency.
Management;
This measure is related to OP-4 through the need
to develop a water-savings factor related to
energy savings, in order to estimate water savings
resulting from temperature band expansion.
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
OP-5: Turn off all campus water fountains
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
would be
calculated using
water-energy
factor derived
in Measure OP4.
Drought only
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Immediate;
completed
Minimal
savings;
symbolic to
initiate drought
awareness;
approximately
730 gal/year
Minimal cost, no
savings
OP-6: Decommission three and replace two
remaining water softeners with Scale Blasters =
Reduction of approx. 10,000 gal/yr (in progress)
Long term
Student Housing
Facilities
In progress
10,000 gal/year
$8,000/
OP-7: Spot pressure wash as needed instead of
scheduled routine area washing
Drought only
Student Housing
Custodial
Immediate; started
April 2014
42,400 gal/year
OP-8: Deploy additional 20 – C3 machines that
To be evaluated
Student Housing
Summer 2014
25,600 gal/year
While the actual water savings is small given that
the fountains re-circulate water, this action is
both symbolic and educational. The absence of
water at the fountains will remind visitors that
water is scarce. At the Terrace fountain next to
Whole Foods, the Arboretum & Public Garden will
install an informational sign to alert visitors to the
reason why the fountain is turned off and invite
them to learn more about water conservation
measures in their landscape by visiting the
Arboretum’s website. Other signs will be installed
at the remaining fountains, depending on the
frequency of inquiries regarding the lack of water.
$20.00
$0/
$87.00
$22,000/
Page 18 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
are used to clean restrooms and replace the mop
buckets.
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
Custodial
implementation
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
$52.75
Bathrooms are cleaned daily; 7 days/week. Water
savings are estimated at 0.54 gal/bath/cleaning.
Dining Services
DS-1: Keep lids on boiling water during slow times
Long term
Dining Services
Implementation
Spring 2014
Unknown
$0/$0
DS-2: Keep pasta cookers at a simmer rather than
at a rolling boil
Long term
Dining Services
Implementation
Spring 2014
Unknown
$0/$0
DS-3: Use dry cleaning techniques (broom and
mop) rather than spraying water to clean floors
or use a water broom instead of a hose
Long term
Dining Services
Implementation
Spring 2014 with
custodial
contractor
To be
determined
To be determined
DS-4: Serve water to guests only on request in
our restaurants
To be evaluated
Dining Services
Implementation
Spring 2014
Unknown
$0/$0
DS-5: Pre-soak and wash items in basins of water
rather than under running water
Long term
Dining Services
In progress
Unknown
$0/$0
DS-6: Only wash full loads in the dishwasher
Long term
Dining Services
In progress; fresh
water only used to
rinse
Unknown
$0/$0
DS-7: Sweep loading docks, sidewalks and
driveways rather than hosing them off
Long term
Dining Services
In progress; only
hosing for deep
clean and organic
waste
Unknown
$0/$0
Page 19 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
DS-8: Investigate a temporary switch to
compostables in the dining commons to reduce
dishwashing water
Drought only
Dining Services
Would only be
used as a last
resort measure
Unknown
Undetermined
DS-9: Equipment Review: There would be
considerable water savings if current Mongolian
WOK system is replaced with a waterless model.
Long term
Dining Services
Review Spring
2014
Unknown
Undetermined;
possibly
PRACTICE
NOTES
$0/$0
Landscape Management
LM-1: Reduce water frequency within selected
turf areas on campus.
Drought only
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Immediate; started
February 2014
Estimated:
45,000,000
gal/year
Costs and savings
unknown
Long term
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Short term timing;
System is being redesigned
Estimated:
25,000 gal/year
Labor savings of
about $1,500, with
labor directed to
other areas
The vast majority of landscape water is applied to
turf areas. Outside of sports fields and other
actively-used turf areas such as the Quad or
events lawns, all other turf areas will have an
immediate 20% reduction in water application.
The Arboretum & Public Garden will refine this
reduction by analyzing existing tree locations in
relation to low-visibility and low-use turf areas,
allowing further reductions of up to 50% in
selected lawn areas.
LM-2: Change water frequency and retrofit
irrigation within the Mediterranean collection at
the UC Davis Arboretum.
The Mediterranean Collection within the
Arboretum is watered with impact spray heads
that are attached to quick-couplers. This leads to
overspray onto the waterway and adjacent paths.
(Will save about
80% over
current
practices)
Page 20 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
Drought only
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Immediate; started
March 2014
4,000,000
gal/year
Savings of
~$9,000/year in
water costs and
$6,000 in labor
savings. Impact
will be a drylooking landscape;
may incur
community
complaints.
Long term
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Mid-term timing;
Design starting in
March 2014
Estimated
savings of
5,000,000
gal/year
Funding still needs
to be identified;
Cost for
implementation
approximately
$230,000; Labor
savings of about
$7,000/year, with
labor being
redirected to
other areas
Long term
Campus Planning
Mondavi Parking
Unknown
Unknown
Arboretum & Public Garden staff is designing a
low-cost replacement system that can be
deployed as needed, using spray heads with a
pattern that will reduce or eliminate overspray.
LM-3: Reduce irrigation by a minimum of 50% at
the PSL building on Chiles Boulevard.
The PSL building is a leased building that is
serviced by City of Davis utilities. Reducing the
landscape irrigation by 50% will not only save
water, but also approximately $9000 in annual
water bills. Grounds will determine if it is possible
to reduce the irrigation frequency further without
permanently damaging the landscaping.
LM-4: Proceed with Phase 2 of the La Rue Road
landscape corridor conversion.
CPCR will immediately begin in-house design of a
Valley-Wise landscape along the entire length of
La Rue Road. The design will draw from the
efforts and lessons learned in the La Rue median
project, and expand the scope of the landscape
conversion to both sides of La Rue. This effort will
coincide with the reduction in frequency of
irrigation on the extensive turf areas along La
Rue, in particular in front of Meyer Hall and the
Cole Facility.
LM-5: Continue working with Transportation and
Page 21 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
Parking Services (TAPS) on conversion of
landscapes around parking lots to Valley-Wise
plant palettes.
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
and Community
Resources
Structure project
completed.
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
8,000,000
Unknown.
For other
locations, timing is
dependent upon
location
identification and
selection. Process
is being initiated.
Short-term timing.
TAPS has converted several parking lots on
campus to low water use landscapes in
partnership with Grounds, including Lots 14, 15,
40, 41. Grounds is currently converting the South
Entry Parking Structure to a low water use
landscape and began working on the North Entry
Parking Structure last summer.
LM-6: Discontinue practice of supplemental
summertime water in east end of Arboretum
Waterway.
Drought only
LM-7: Analyze additional possible landscapes for
retrofit, and analyze potential for accelerating
planned landscape changes
Long term
Utilities
Summer 2014
Aesthetic impact
likely to result
(algae, murky
water, possible
smells) ; may incur
community
complaints.
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
To be determined
(analysis is
underway)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Research Water Use – Investigate capacity to reduce research/agricultural water consumption
RW-1: Investigate possible animal facilities
practices that could be modified
To be evaluated
Utilities
To be determined
College of
Agricultural and
Environmental
Page 22 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
To be determined
Unknown
Unknown
To be determined
Unknown
Unknown
Immediate; started
February 2014
Unknown
Unknown/$0
Immediate; started
March 2014
Unknown
$0/$0
Sciences
RW-2: Investigate possibility of reduced pumping
for aquaculture
To be evaluated
RW-3: Investigate irrigation practices on
agricultural research lands, assess possibility of
water conservation through agricultural
irrigation; possibly document research projects
on irrigation practices
To be evaluated
Utilities
College of
Agricultural and
Environmental
Sciences
Utilities
College of
Agricultural and
Environmental
Sciences
Communication, Behavior Education, and Outreach
ED-1: Promote and augment existing behavioral
programs for offices, labs, and student housing,
and amplify promotion of existing education and
outreach programs, such as Arboretum Valleywise gardening education.
Long term
ED-2: Amplify campus sustainability web site
pages on water actions and use as a central
communication tool, in conjunction with water
research faculty and others on campus
Long term
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
Student Housing
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
NB: In addition, UC Davis has established a special
drought website, California Drought Watch, found
Page 23 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
Long term
Utilities
Start spring 2014
Unknown
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
at http://drought.ucdavis.edu.
ED-3: Install “report-a-leak” stickers to engage
the campus community
Facilities
Management
Report water leaks on campus by calling 530-7521655, online http://facilities.ucdavis.edu/WebWO/,
or emailing [email protected]. Send
UC Davis-related water conservation ideas,
comments & questions to [email protected].
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
$3,000 for the
cling stickers;
unknown labor
costs/
$0
ED-4: Plan a comprehensive communication,
education and outreach campaign, with Strategic
Communications and other participating units.
Drought and
long term
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
Immediate; started
in March 2014, will
continue
throughout 2014
Unknown
Labor time of staff
not currently
working on water
communication/$0
ED-4a: Establish a means for people to report
water waste and water conservation ideas.
Drought
emphasis;
probably keep
long term
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
Completed; March
2014
Unknown
$0/Unknown
Drought
emphasis;
probably keep
long term
Utilities
Completed; March
2014
None
$0/$0
Drought only
Administrative
and Resource
Management
April 2014
Not applicable
Not applicable
A listserve email address was established:
[email protected].
ED-4b: Establish a means for people to see realtime water use on campus.
A water dashboard was developed and is hosted
publically at: http://wateroncampus.ucdavis.edu
ED-4c: Send a formal communication from top
leadership regarding the drought, campus
response, and what the campus community can
do to assist in water conservation efforts.
Chancellor Katehi sent an email in April about
Page 24 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
campus sustainability, which mentioned the
drought; an email from John Meyer, Vice
Chancellor of Administrative and Resource
Management, followed about campus response
and how members of campus can take action.
ED-5: Communication to residents in residence
halls: Water reduction tips - Aggie Reader/Park
Messenger/Facebook (ePublications & Social
Media); email blast (SHA apartments only);
sustainability programmers provide programs and
tabling regarding water conservation, water
conservation as a topic for spring neighborhood
meetings.
Drought and
long term
Student Housing
Immediate; start
spring 2014
Unknown
$0/Unknown
ED-6: Communication program to residents in
coordination with campus water communication
plan to include: static clings for restroom mirrors,
shower hangers, decals for washing machines,
table tents in the dining commons, posters and
Resident Advisor bulletin boards, slides for LCD
monitors
Drought and
long term
Student Housing
Immediate; start
spring 2014
Unknown
Unknown/
Unknown
ED-7: In-room communication via door hanger or
printed handout for Conference Housing and
Orientation Guests
Drought and
long term
Student Housing
Summer 2014
Unknown
Unknown/
Unknown
ED-8: Water reduction tips for Housing staff
publication
Drought
Student Housing
Immediate; start
spring 2014
Unknown
$0/Unknown
ED-9: Further improve water conservation with a
major campaign educating and soliciting support
Long term
Dining Services
Annual; repeated
Unknown
$0/$0
Page 25 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
from entire Dining Services team.
ED-10: Update the Arboretum & Public Garden
blog with information about CPCR’s water
reduction actions.
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
spring 2014
Long term
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources
Immediate; start
spring 2014
None
$0/$0
Drought only
Utilities
Initiate first
changes in April
2014. Complete
upgraded controls
before June 2014.
10,000,000
gal/year
Unknown/
Unknown
The Arboretum & Public Garden website and blog
will be updated to contain entries about each of
these water reduction actions as well as other
drought-related resources for the public. CPCR will
also coordinate with Strategic Communications so
they may direct media and other inquiries to our
listed experts and the blog entries.
Utilities Infrastructure
UT-1: Investigate increased recirculation of
cooling tower blow-down water
This may be a temporary measure, as the higher
concentrations of minerals may trigger
wastewater treatment issues, or shorten the life
of the equipment.
(Under
evaluation)
UT-2: Implement a rebate program for campus
customers that currently pay for water use to
discount water rate based on current year water
reductions.
Drought only
Utilities
Program roll-out in
April 2014; rebates
given in January
2015.
Unknown
Unknown/
Unknown
UT-3: Eliminate or recycle water overflowing from
the Thermal Energy Storage tank.
Long term
(permanent)
Utilities
By May 2014
3,000,000
gal/year
$20,000/
There could be a high return on reduced
Unknown
Page 26 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
PRACTICE
NOTES
April 2014
DROUGHT-ONLY
OR LONG TERM
RESPONSE
RESPONSIBLE
UNIT
TIMING AND
STATUS
POTENTIAL
WATER SAVED
POTENTIAL $
COSTS/POTENTIAL
$ SAVINGS
Long term
Utilities
Begin in April 2014
Unknown
To be determined/
chemicals if leaks can be eliminated
UT-4: Install additional water metering where
determined to help assess water use in
potentially high demand settings.
Unknown
A first instance of implementation for this water
reduction measure is installation of water meters
at Fleet Services to determine water use for
vehicle washing.
New Construction and Renovations
NC-1: Review Campus Standards and Design
Guide for possible opportunities on facilities
construction and renovation. Proposed changes:
Long term
Design and
Construction
Management
NC-1a: Design Requirements: Rename “Energy
Efficiency” as “Energy and Water Efficiency” and
add brief language about water in this section.
Environmental
Stewardship and
Sustainability
NC-1b: Construction Division 22: Engineering staff
will review and propose updates as needed and
appropriate to the performance requirement for
plumbing fixtures.
Campus Planning
and Community
Resources:
Grounds Campus
Landscape
Architect
NC-1c: Standard Specification – Technical
Specification, Division 32: Campus Landscape
Architect group will review and propose updates
as needed and appropriate to the landscape
requirements.
Proposed changes
would be put
forward for July
2014 Campus
Standards and
Design Guide
update.
Water savings
are not
estimated for
this measure
because there
would be less
additional
water used,
rather than
water savings
from current
use.
Unknown
Page 27 of 28
UC Davis Drought Response Action Plan
April 2014
VI. NEXT STEPS
The Drought Response Action Plan articulates an ambitious plan to reduce water use not only during the
current California drought, but for the long-term. In order to assess implementation and chronicle
progress, the following monitoring and assessment steps are recommended:
•
Track each of the proposed measures and gather performance data where possible.
•
Provide an annual report to the campus on water use statistics, possibly in conjunction with water
quality reporting. The performance period will run from April 1 through March 31.
•
In April 2015, analyze progress towards reduction goals and measure implementation. Prepare a
plan update, if needed.
Status of next steps outlined in briefing document proposing preparation of a drought action plan:
•
Work with Strategic Communications to develop a comprehensive communications plan on all
drought-related issues. A meeting is scheduled for January 24 to coordinate this.
o
•
The campus Sustainable Water Systems Working Group will convene and begin assembling the
Drought Action Plan, with a target completion date of March 1, 2014.
o
•
STATUS: Completed. The Sacramento campus has determined the need to develop a separate
drought action plan.
The working group will determine what resources would be needed to implement the Drought
Action Plan, and will provide that analysis in a chapter of the Drought Action Plan.
o
•
STATUS: Underway. A water awareness communication group has been formed and is meeting.
The campus working group will partner with Sacramento campus staff to determine if there are any
opportunities for shared efforts.
o
•
STATUS: Completed. This Drought Response Action Plan is the outcome of the proposal and
subsequent working group effort.
A subcommittee to the working group for on-campus housing, including Student Housing and
inclusionary housing (Tandem and West Village housing), will be formed to address education and
outreach opportunities for water use reduction.
o
•
STATUS: Completed. Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability collaborated with Strategic
Communications on the drought.ucdavis.edu (California Drought Watch) website.
STATUS: Partially fulfilled. Cost determination was performed as best as possible. As actions are
undertaken, additional information will be captured in order to better understand the cost
implications of the campus drought response.
Implementation of the Drought Action Plan would begin after the plan is accepted by campus
leadership and funded, as needed.
o
STATUS: Partially fulfilled. Many of the actions have already begun. If funding for major actions,
such as landscape replacement, becomes available sooner, then the actions could potentially be
accelerated, dependent upon staffing.
Page 28 of 28