Water Goals and Strategies
Why does water matter?
Water is an important resource that is used by schools in many ways. Most frequently water is used for drinking, restrooms, landscaping, heating and cooling, and cafeteria kitchens. All of this use in schools adds up to about 6% of overall water use in the United States (EPA, 2018), and has a number of environmental, social, and economic impacts:
Environmental: Humans impact water ecosystems through multiple touch points: water shortages, stormwater runoff, and energy use associated with water transport. Fresh water shortages put pressure on local water ecosystems and aquatic wildlife that in turn affect the entire food chain. Untreated stormwater runoff flowing from man-made surfaces polluting local waterways. During extreme weather, stormwater runoff can cause soil erosion and flooding. Pumping, delivering, and treating water is a major energy user, so institutions can help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy generation by conserving water. Marine ecosystems absorb CO2 which contributes to ocean acidification, climate change, and sea level rise.
Social: Polluted water has major impacts on human health and wellness. Water pollution and access to clean drinking water affects the most vulnerable communities. Sea level rise due to climate change will impact vulnerable communities and displace large groups of people.
Economic: Major industries rely on healthy water ecosystems including agriculture, fisheries, health, and tourism. Lack of clean and safe drinking water inhibits economic development.
It is critical that schools have a water management plan that makes efforts to conserve water, protect water quality, and reduce their overall ecological footprint.
Key Mandates
What are the key mandates and policies related to sustainable water for California?
California mandates for water are focused around providing access, conserving water, and reducing water pollution. Examples of legislation and mandates include the following:
SB 1413 - Chapter 558 (2010), which requires school districts to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times.
AB 1343 - Chpt 90 (2017), which allows school districts to enter into Go Low Flow Water Conservation Partnership with a public water system for purposes of reducing water use at schools, reducing stormwater and dry weather runoff at schools, reducing school site water pollution, and establishing educational opportunities in water conservation.
CA EO B-37-16 (May 2016), which is the five‐year roadmap used by the Brown Administration to “Make Water Conservation a California Way of Life.”
Water Goals and Strategies
What are the water goals for TK/K-12 schools, and what are strategies for achieving this goal?
Water Conservation
Indoor Water Conservation: Means promoting practices, policies, and infrastructure that promotes water conservation. Progress has been made toward efficient or low flow appliances and fixtures. Water efficiency also means taking action through leak detection/monitoring, posting signs to encourage water conservation, grey water re-use, and use of low aerators.
Outdoor Water Conservation: Is about how water comes onto the school campus and used on campus grounds. Progress can be made toward water conservation/efficiency though actions like drip irrigation, irrigation adjusted for seasons, time, and plant type, using reclaimed water, leak detections/monitoring, mulching, rainwater capture, reclaimed water use, and native plant landscaping. Depending on location and nearby/local environment ecologically beneficial water system installed or restored; example: restoring nearby creek, installing small pond.
Collection and Pollution Prevention
Collection: Collecting rainwater for conservation or to restore groundwater sources. Schools can address the need for on site collection and re-use through cisterns and grey-water filtering.
Pollution Prevention: Preventing the pollution of waterways from runoff and methods of slowing water through natural filtration. Some of these solutions include rainwater gardens, bioswales.
Water Quality: Improvements to water sanitation or infrastructure to eliminate toxins is a necessary component of a hygienic and safe school campus. These solutions involve designing, installing, and maintaining water infrastructure that produces potable drinking water.