UCSB Water Action Plan:
Developing a Successful Template
University of California, Santa Barbara
AASHE 2012
October 15, 2012
Matthew O’Carroll & Briana Seapy
Overview of Talk
Water Action Plan (WAP): Motivation
 Developing a Water Action Plan
◦ Defining Scope
◦ Documentation of Water Use at UCSB
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 Data Collection
◦ Baseline to Benchmark
 Selection Methodology
◦ Identifying Key Practices & Trends in Water Conservation
◦ Suggesting Future Water Conservation Efforts
 Making Recommendations Using CBA and CEA
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◦ Making Your WAP a Living Successful Document
UCSB WAP Template
Water Action Plan (WAP): Motivation
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University of California, Office of the President: Mandate
UCSB Future Challenges: Campus growth, Increasing water rates,
and Climate change
Developing a WAP: Defining Scope
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Magnitude of UCSB Role in the Region/Local Watershed
Geographic Scope of Water Use
Temporal Scope
Water Scope
Developing a WAP:
Documentation of Water Use at UCSB

Data Collection: Quantitative and qualitative information
on UCSB’s water history (utilities statements, interviews,
audits)
Developing a WAP: Baseline to Benchmark
3-year Baseline (1996/1997-1998/1999)
 3-year “Benchmark” (2008/2009-2010/2011)
◦ Purpose: to encourage UCSB to strive for further
reductions
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Baseline to
%
Benchmark Reduction
Total Potable
Water
25%
Potable
Water/ WCU
43%
Potable
Water/ GSF
52%
Developing a WAP: Identifying Key Trends &
Practices in Water Conservation

Attributing potable water use reduction to past
campus actions
◦ Irrigation: Potable to reclaimed
◦ Industrial: Expansion of chilled water loop
◦ Infrastructure Upgrades: Bathroom retrofits
Suggesting Future Water Conservation Efforts
Cost Benefit Analysis
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Laying out all the costs and benefits in a way
that predicts the economic value of water
conservation efforts
WAP-G Recommendation using CBA
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Installation of a RF/NO System to treat waste and
storm water for use on landscapes, in toilets, and
as water to supplement cooling towers
Potential Scenarios: Off-site system at local
wastewater facility, centralized facility oncampus, decentralized filtration systems oncampus
Collaboration between UCSB, Goleta Sanitary
District, Goleta Water District
Suggesting Future Water Conservation Efforts
Cost Effective Analysis
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Meeting water savings targets using least
cost intensive practices
WAP-G Recommendations
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Bathroom/ shower retrofits
Weather-based Irrigation Controllers
Matched Precipitation (MP) Rotators
Xeriscaping Design
Scheduled Maintenance
A Living Successful Document
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Goal Setting
◦ Realistic goals that align with future campus
plans (e.g. Long Range Development Plan)
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Reporting
◦ Annual or Bi-annual basis
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Collaboration
◦ Sharing ideas and the document itself with
stakeholders and other universities
UCSB Water Action Plan Template
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Background/ Introduction
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Overall Importance
Regional Context
Campus Physical Context
Motivation Specific to Campus
Definition of Scope (geographic, temporal, water)
Campus Water Use Baselines
Campus Historical Water Use & Reduction Process
Campus Water Use Benchmark
Recommendations & Strategies to Achieve Future
Water Reduction Goals
 Financing Opportunities
 Conclusions & Future Steps
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Contact Information
Email: wateraction@bren.ucsb.edu
http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~wateraction/