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September 2, 2008
Emory recognized as wise with water

By Kelly Gray

Even before Georgia’s statewide drought was issued in 2006, Emory was working on ways to conserve water on its campuses. Starting with a Statement of Principles for Water Use issued in 1995, Emory has actively been identifying operational and building design changes to conserve water.

These efforts and others led to the University receiving the 2007 Fox McCarthy Certificate of Achievement for its “outstanding water conservation program.” The certificate is awarded annually by the Georgia WaterWise Council, a section of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals.

“We are, of course, pleased with the successful accomplishments that Emory has achieved to help conserve Georgia’s water resources,” says Mike Mandl, Emory’s executive vice president for finance and administration. “Emory is attempting to create a comprehensive approach for itself, which is responsible and sensitive to the region’s conditions, and ultimately one that can serve as a model for other institutions and organizations to follow.”

Since the drought was issued, Emory has gone beyond standard water conservation efforts. The University only uses rainwater collected in its cisterns or rain barrels to water its trees and educational food gardens, and has launched a water conservation awareness campaign that urges employees and students to consider ways to reduce personal water consumption.

Some of Emory’s innovative water conservation methods can be found in its many “green” buildings across its campuses. These buildings incorporate water saving measures like underground rainwater cisterns that capture 300,000 gallons of rainwater for reuse; water conserving plumbing fixtures like low-flow shower heads, dual flush toilets and waterless urinals; and energy-efficient and water conserving heat wheels to ventilate buildings that result in 4 million gallons of condensate a year for Emory’s chilled water system. By being an early adopter of these technologies, Emory has shown their effectiveness for other institutions and universities considering similar measures.