Water Management

Nearly 90% of CSUDH campus irrigation is serviced by recycled (reclaimed water). However, the university still practices responsible stewardship over all its water consumption, regardless of source, in its facilities. 

The university currently practices several best practice water conservation efforts, such as using brooms rather than water to sweep hardscapes, timely repairing of irrigation and toilet leaks, decreasing watering schedules and system pressure, replacing broken features with low-flow or conservation devices, and closely monitoring leaks in laboratory equipment and boiler/steam systems.

It has also piloted advanced technology such as the DripCycle condensate capture system at Central Plant which recirculates captured condensate back to its cooling towers instead of the drain. 

The DripCycle project earned recognition by the Metropolitan Water District with a One Water Award for Innovation in 2024. 

DripCycle Project - OneWater Awards
This innovative project recaptures water condensate at Central Plant for recirculation in its cooling towers.

The university closely tracks its water consumption trends with regular monitoring as well as leak detection software and sub-metering on every campus building.  We have also begun creating and publicizing written water management and conservation policies and recommendations, addressing short-term water conservation goals, and have made a commitment to the longer-term water management efficiency of the facility.

For more detailed information on our efforts and plans to responsibly steward our water resources, please see our current strategic Water Action Plan (through 2030) for the campus:

For our past Water Action Plans and updates, please see below: 

Major water conservation initiatives include:

  • Campus Standards for Landscape Design

    CSUDH applies California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance standards on the design of new campus landscape.  It also requires new capital planning projects designing landscape to conduct required water budget calculations as if using potable water, not reclaimed which results in even more efficient landscapes than required by the ordinance. 

     
  • Irrigation Audits/Upkeep

    Partnering with our water utility providers, the campus has organized free professional irrigation audits to identify water saving opportunities for the campus. Additionally, Grounds has a full-time Irrigation Controls Specialist position to ensure ongoing maintenance for the campus irrigation system to prevent leaks and improve efficiency.

  • Weather Sensor Irrigation Control

    Reclaimed water is distributed through a CalSense irrigation system that includes weather sensors that monitors flow.

  • Low-Flow Showerheads and Urinals

    All showerheads and urinals on campus have been replaced with low-flow versions, and new fixtures are installed based on current CalGreen standards for efficiency. 

  • Central Plant Cooling Towers

    Using a zero blowdown procedure, the Central Plant is able to save 30,000 gallons of water per day for the campus.  It also has an innovative condensate capture and return system that allows the water to be reused in the cooling towers.  

  • West Basin Municipal Water District Pilot Project

    Past upgrades in University Housing have included over $360,000 in savings and water use reduced by 50% by installing dual-flush low-flow toilets, low-flow showerheads, and faucet flow restrictors in Phase I and II units.  Housing Phase III is built to LEED Gold equivalency, and has fixtures that are CalGreen compliant.  

Report Leaks

Report all leaks, dripping faucets, and running toilets. A dripping faucet wastes more than 600 gallons a year, while a running toilet wastes more than 131,000 gallons! Please call Facilities Services at (310) 243-3804 to report leaks.

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