Water supply sources and water demands for Stanford are metered and closely monitored on a continuous basis for both potable and non-potable needs. High-quality potable water is sourced from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, primarily from the Tuolumne River watershed. The non-potable water supplies include surface water from local creeks, stormwater capture, construction dewatering (when available), and groundwater. Stanford promotes and facilitates water stewardship and efficiency by identifying opportunities for conservation, researching and testing new technology to determine applicability for campus use, and inviting everyone to seek deeper knowledge about water from the tap.
Water consumption by source by year
Potable water consumption by year, with reference line of total square footage by year
Non-potable water consumption by year, filtered by source
Dewatering – This is a process used to remove groundwater or surface water intrusions from construction sites. Essentially, a sump pump is installed to pump the water out of the site during the building process.
Non-potable water – This refers to water that has not been treated to drinking water standards. It is the main source of irrigation water for the university, including athletic fields, the golf course, and campus landscaping.
Potable water – This source is also referred to as drinking water or water that is safe to drink and suitable for human consumption. Stanford’s domestic water system provides potable water for all university buildings and the fire protection system.
Stormwater capture – Stormwater refers to surface water runoff from rainfall. Stormwater capture is the practice of collecting this runoff and conveying it to be used in the non-potable water system.
For more details about Stanford’s water systems, visit Stanford Water Resources.
