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Faculty account for significantly higher water usage than students on campus. (MICHAEL LIU/The Stanford Daily)

Pop quiz: Who uses more potable water, per person, at home — Stanford students in dorms, faculty and staff living on campus, or the average Santa Clara County resident?

New University data say it is faculty, who use an estimated 25 percent more domestic water per capita than the average local resident, and more than four times as much as the average student.

The data are tracked largely by staff in the University’s Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, who have spent at least $2 million since 2001 encouraging faculty and students to conserve water and use high-efficiency appliances at home.

The department’s 2008 numbers, their most recent, illustrate the contrast: Of the 2.3 million gallons of potable water Stanford used every day last year, about 22 percent was used by an estimated 2,441 faculty and staff members and their families living on campus -about 215 gallons per person per day. An estimated 11,500 undergraduate and graduate students accounted for about 25 percent of the water used, or some 50 gallons per day per student.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average Santa Clara County resident used about 172 gallons, both indoor and outdoor, per day last year.

Pressure to Conserve
These days, however, the University is under water pressure.
It began with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which sells drinking water to Stanford, Laporte said. Years ago, Stanford contracted with SFPUC to receive about three million gallons per day, anticipating the school would eventually need that much.

In 2000, the county-issued General Use Permit, which governs how Stanford may develop its land, stipulated that the University not exceed the original three million-gallon allocation. SFPUC has chimed in, too, saying that none of its purchasing agencies, including Stanford, could have more water until at least 2018.

In response, Laporte said, the University developed a water conservation “master plan” in 2000 in hopes of “[reducing] our water use as much as possible so that we can stretch our water supply,” she said.

Shortly afterward, conservation money was budgeted – some $5 million total, of which the water utilities staff has spent about $2 million to date, Laporte said. Another $500,000 has gone to water conservation projects in Student Housing, according to Executive Director Rodger Whitney.

Today, much of that faculty money pays for free “water-wise” house calls for faculty and staff living on campus, as well as recycling old toilets, giving away high-efficiency showerheads and aerators, and helping homeowners replace their lawn with less water-intensive landscaping.

Stanford’s efforts come in the wake of a state-wide water crisis, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger officially declaring a drought in June 2008 after more than two years of below-average rainfall. Nearby East Bay Municipal Utility District had also imposed mandatory water rationing the month before the declaration.

American Rivers on Thursday named Portland one of the nation’s top “water wise” communities protecting clean water and public health with innovative green solutions.

Portland was chosen for its response to sewage and stormwater overflows. The report, “Natural Security: how sustainable water strategies are preparing communities for a changing climate,” comes as Congress is gearing up to consider a climate bill including so-called “adaptation measures” that will help communities get ready for the floods, droughts, and waterborne diseases that come with global warming.

“We are at a transformational moment for our nation’s rivers and water infrastructure, and Portland is forging the path to a healthier, more secure future,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers.

In response to stormwater runoff and sewer overflows that have long degraded water quality and threatened public health, Portland integrated a number of green infrastructure solutions with expanded sewer and stormwater pipes. The city’s “green street,” eco-roof, and downspout disconnection programs, while still in early stages, currently capture 15 percent of the city’s annual stormwater runoff and have potential to absorb 80 percent. By 2011, Portland’s investments will reduce sewage overflows by 96 percent. Green infrastructure will provide the added capacity and flexibility to minimize stormwater problems and protect public health, even as extreme storms grow more frequent and intense in a changing climate.

Other water-smart communities include:

• Boston protected wetlands along the Charles River and as a result saves $40 million in flood damage every year.

• Clayton County, Ga., beat the drought with an innovative water recycling system.

• Soldiers Grove, Wis., moved 49 homes and businesses out of the floodplain to higher ground, and now enjoys better protection from floods.

• Staten Island, N.Y. uses streams and wetlands to help transport and treat stormwater runoff.

• Seattle’s embrace of water conservation and efficiency has reduced per capita water use 33 percent since 1990.

• Augusta, Maine, is enjoying improved water quality, healthier fish and wildlife and better recreation, thanks to the 1999 removal of Edwards Dam.

• Grand Junction, Colo., is cleaning up and reclaiming its rivers as social, economic, and recreational amenities.

It's the unofficial bathtub of Carl Sagan and star loving bathers everywhere. But instead of bathing under the stars, users get the sense of floating amongst them with the Nirvana bathtub's 360 LED lights...

Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberte is taking travel to a whole new level.

The animal-free circus creator is heading to the moon – making him Canada’s first “space tourist.”  And I really hope the peanuts on board are good, because the 12-day out-of-this-world trip is costing Guy a cool $35 million.

As part of a campaign for his charity One Drop foundation, Laliberte is calling the flight a “Poetic Social Mission, Moving Stars and Earth for Water”, and will present a series of performances in 14 cities in support of water conservation.

Heavy hitters Al Gore, David Suzuki, Shakira and U2 are stated to be involved with the production that will include music, dance, visual arts and photography – all with an environmental theme.

Still not really sure what to make of it? Neither are we. But we’re pretty sure it’s going to be awesome. To learn more about Guy’s organization, visit OneDrop.org.

"Would you like water?" is now a common refrain at restaurants which, in many areas, are required to ask first before serving.

The move to pour only on request is a common step -- albeit small -- toward overall water conservation.

But does it really help?

Story continues below

Stan Lim / The Press-Enterprise

Patrons Rosemary Chambers, left, and Kathy Weber, both of Riverside, have lunch that includes glasses of water they requested at Crest Cafe in Riverside.

Experts say that for every one glass of water served, it takes about three more glasses of water to wash the glass. So in a restaurant that serves 100 customers a day, if half skip the 8 ounces of water, at least 12½ gallons are saved.

"Is it a lot of water saved? Absolutely not," said Tim Barr, water use efficiency manager for Western Municipal Water District in Riverside. "To us, it's a valuable public relations tool. The customers remember there's a drought on and they should be doing something at home. That's the real value."

Western, which serves parts of Corona, Norco, Temecula, Murrieta and Riverside, doesn't limit restaurant water service until the third stage of its drought response; the district is now in stage 2, which aims for 10 percent conservation and allows outdoor residential irrigation only three days a week.

Last week, the agency distributed free water-on-request displays for tables at restaurants, he said.

Water-on-demand is part of a larger trend among restaurants to conserve water and whittle costs.

Noting that the cost of a gallon of water is rising faster than the rate of inflation, the National Restaurant Association advises its members to cut costs by taking such measures as washing vegetables in a basin instead of under running water and checking for plumbing leaks, spokeswoman Annika Stensson said.

When Corona restaurant owner Agatha Tsirtsis got an e-mail from the city a couple months ago asking for beefed-up conservation, she complied -- starting with glasses of water.

"We posted some laminated notices in the front entrance telling our customers (water) is going to be served on request only," said Tsirtsis, owner of Citrus City Grille.

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Stan Lim / The Press-Enterprise

The days are mostly gone when restaurant patrons sat down to a table with water-filled glasses. As a conservation measure, above, Rosa Gossling serves customers at Crest Cafe in Riverside if water is requested.

Now, when the weather is hot, almost all customers opt for water. But when temperatures are cooler, about half of the diners do without, she said.

"We used to put water out there, and a lot of the water was just wasted, so it definitely helps," she said. "We're more conscious of our practices as well."

Tsirtsis and her husband, Steve, told their employees to defrost foods overnight in the refrigerator instead of under running water, and to run only full loads through the dishwasher.

Corona is in the second stage of its drought ordinance, which prohibits restaurants from serving water unless requested. In other cities, including Redlands and Riverside, the move is voluntary.

Over the past two years, Riverside Public Utilities has given out about 51,000 cardboard drink coasters with water-saving tips to about 50 restaurants, said Mike Bacich, the city's sustainability officer.

The Crest Café is one of those eateries. Manager Alfonse Sadek said the restaurant switched to a water-on-demand policy about six months ago after getting the city's promotional items, though he's not sure it's very effective.

About half of the café's 100 customers a day skip the water but order a soft drink in a glass that also must be washed, Sadek said. But running a tray of 40 cups through the dishwasher only takes about 1½ gallons, he said.

One of his customers, who was sipping iced tea at lunch and passed on the water, applauded the effort.

"They just throw it down the drain if you don't drink it. We all need to be conserving," said Mary Johnson, of Riverside.

Bottling Water With A Surprise

Did you know 77% of the world’s plastic bottles end up in landfills? That amounts to tens of metric tons of waste every  year. If recycling isn’t the only answer, maybe we need to think of  new ways to extend the lives of these bottles. Seeds in the Bottle is a project by designer Yun Hwan Sung with a little surprise in each package. Tiny herb seeds are stored inside a pocket you release into the bottle when you’re done with it. Invert the bottle, fill with potting mix, water and instead of filling up landfills, you have an herb garden.

Designer: Yun Hwan Sung

WASHINGTON – August is peak water use season and with a few simple tips from EPA's WaterSense program homeowners can save water and as much as $110 annually on their water bills.

“Peak water use can be expensive, taxes local water systems, and threatens future water supply and quality,” said Peter S. Silva, EPA’s assistant administrator for water. “A few simple changes can help consumers reduce their water bills, and in turn, save them money.”

On average, an American household uses about 260 gallons per day, but this amount climbs to around 1,000 gallons per day during peak water use season with some households using as much as 3,000 gallons a day.

Here are some tips to help reduce water use:

*         Water yards only when needed.

*        Consider using WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets and faucet accessories, which use at least 20 percent less water and can save $60 per year.

*        Water landscapes only when needed. Watering in the very early morning or evening is best.

*         Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes, and scrape dishes instead of rinsing when loading the dishwasher.

*        For a summer refreshment, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it is cold.

*        Put your favorite handyperson to work fixing leaks around the home, which can waste about 200 gallons per week. Fixing leaks can add up to about $50 in utility bill savings annually.

In 2008 alone, WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, and faucet accessories helped Americans save more than 9.3 billion gallons of water and realize more than $55 million in savings on water and sewer bills. That is enough water to supply 100,000 average households for a year.

WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. More tips and information on WaterSense: www.epa.gov/watersense/water/peak.htm Topics: WaterSense

In 2006, California adopted the nation's first comprehensive law to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists have found to be heating the planet. Last year, state officials laid out a detailed plan of how they plan to slash the state's emissions to 1990 levels in the next 11 years. And they began to adopt regulations, such as the nation's first rule to mandate low-carbon fuel.

But California can't control whether Congress will adopt an effective national climate law and it has no control over whether U.S. action could spur China, India and other fast-growing nations to commit to reducing their carbon footprint at the December negotiations in Copenhagen to draft a climate treaty.

So the nation's most populous state has already begun preparing for the worst: heat-waves, a rising sea level, flooding, wildlife die offs and other expected consequences from what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of the world's top scientists, predict will be a dramatic temperature increase by the end of this century.

Its called adaptation.

A new comprehensive plan from California's Natural Resources Agency offers strategies to deal with threats in seven sectors from fire-fighting to public health and water conservation. The public is invited to submit comments to the draft over the next 45 days (email address is adaptation@resources.ca.gov.)  Public hearings will be held in Sacramento on August 13, and in Los Angeles on a later date.

The draft is "a good step in the right direction," said Gina Solomon of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an advocacy group. "It highlights the importance of local adaptation planning, protecting vulnerable communities and the importance of public education."

But she cautioned: "These are all just words on paper without funding to carry them out. The federal government should help states to prepare for climate change. Spending some money now will save billions later, and these strategies save lives."

David Festa of the Washington-based Environmental Defense Fund, voiced the hope that the report would "add urgency to our state's desperate water supply situation," noting that the Legislature will consider five new water-related bills when it reconvenes on August 17.