Water
NC State’s water management strategies have enabled significant conservation of fiscal and environmental resources.
These multi-faceted efforts include installing aerators and other water volume-reducing devices to plumbing fixtures, using smart irrigation systems that reduce water use by 40 percent and implementing trayless dining halls that have saved 51,000 gallons of water per week since 2008.
NC State also uses water harvesting to meet non-potable water demands, including:
- Cisterns at Jordan and Biltmore Halls, Talley Student Union, Wolf Ridge Apartments and Yarbrough Utility Plant collect rainwater for campus irrigation, power washing and cooling utility plants.
- Condensate from HVAC systems is collected and reused.
- A special water recovery system at Cates Utility Plant saves millions of gallons a year.
- A pipeline on Centennial Campus supplies reuse water (high-quality water that has not been treated to safe levels for drinking) for cooling towers at Centennial Campus Utility Plant and for toilet flushing at James B. Hunt Jr. Library.
59%
of potable water consumption has been reduced on campus compared to the baseline in 2002.
Water Reduction
View NC State’s Energy and Water Report
Water Quality
NC State incorporates best management practices to address stormwater quality and quantity on campus. The goal of this effort is to reduce pollutants — such as heavy metals, sediment, nutrients, oil and toxic substances — from entering local waterways.
How You Can Help
1. Shorten your shower to save water.
2. Turn off the tap when flowing water isn’t necessary.
3. Report campus water leaks to 919-515-2991 or facilities_service@ncsu.edu for quick repair.
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