Fresh Water

GW has made significant investments since the summer of 2015 to reduce potable water consumption through the Eco-Building Program. The university has repaired or replaced toilets, replaced showerheads and installed aerators in more than 40 buildings, improving the water usage of approximately 2,100 toilets, 3,100 faucets, 1,700 showerheads and 180 urinals. In buildings where at least one year of post-retrofit data are available, water consumption during the most recent year was 29 percent lower than the historic average.

The university reduces potable water use in its landscaping by using native plants to reduce the need for irrigation, using smart irrigation systems with soil moisture sensors to determine when plants need water and harvesting rainwater for reuse where feasible. GW has eight campus locations that retain and reuse stormwater for everything from irrigating plants to providing water for toilets and decorative fountains.

In 2010 GW transformed a parking lot into a water reclamation park (“Square 80”) that offers a respite from the busy urban activity that surrounds it. In addition to reclaiming green space, this park features pervious paving, biofiltration planters, rain gardens, bioswales and roofwater collection. The stormwater captured can be reused on campus, and the park includes educational signs to explain the various features and their significance.