Water and energy are linked in complicated ways. Water is used in energy generation, and energy is in turn needed to extract, clean and move water. Reducing campus’ energy, water, and materials use at the same time is cost effective and insulates campus from potential negative circumstances such as drought, spikes in energy prices, etc.

Campus uses 20% of local water demand, and all this water is coming from aquifers that must serve everyone in Central Illinois. Despite an increase in population, campus decreased its water usage by 23% from 2008 to 2014.

Goals:

1) Reduce water consumption by 30% by FY20. Future goals: 40% reduction by FY25, 45% reduction by FY30, 50% reduction by 2040, and 60% reduction by 2050.

2) Capture 25% of stormwater for use as nonpotable water needs by FY20, 40% by FY25, 50% by FY30, 75% by FY40, and 90% by FY50.

Objectives:

15. Obtain and publicize more specific water use data by FY16, including water quantity and quality data where available. Reports should include not only total water use, but also per capita and per square foot.

16. Improve the water efficiency of cooling towers by limiting the amount discharged to sewer to less than 20% of water intake for chiller plant towers, and less than 33% for stand-alone building towers by FY20.

17. Perform a water audit to establish water conservation targets and determine upper limits for water demand by end use (laboratory, kitchen, restroom, etc.) for incorporation into facilities standards by FY16.

18. Inventory and benchmark campus’ existing landscape performance by FY17. Does it capture water and let it seep into the soil, or allow it to run off? The inventory would report locations where native landscaping, no-mow zones, no irrigation zones, etc. are feasible.

19. Through an open solicitation process, implement at least four pilot projects to showcase the potential of water and/ or stormwater reuse by FY20, with the objective of implementing a broader program by FY25. 20. Investigate the water quality impacts of stormwater runoff and potential ways to reduce stormwater pollutant discharges by FY18.

19. Through an open solicitation process, implement at least four pilot projects to showcase the potential of water and/ or stormwater reuse by FY20, with the objective of implementing a broader program by FY25.

20. Investigate the water quality impacts of stormwater runoff and potential ways to reduce stormwater pollutant discharges by FY18.