2. 2SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Introduction – Water Management
Water
Net zero water projects must reduce demand for water first. Low and no-flow
fixtures, xeriscaping, and closed loop process water reduce the need for
supply. Next, matching use to source reduces the need for potable water.
Greywater can be used for irrigation and most wet-cleaning purposes. Reduced
demand can be met with captured rainwater. Waste water is not all black water,
and streams with no human waste should be captured for re-use. Even black
water can be treated in living machines and used for non potable purposes
such as irrigation.
Identify Inefficiencies
Reduce Demand
Appropriate
Source
Water
Capture
Re-
Use
Water
Baseline Campus Wide
Water Usage
Total Gallons Used 2014
2,220,000 gal
Equivalent Barrels
55 Gallon 40,000 bls
Maximize
Reduction
Increase
Efficiencies
Renewables
3. Goal 1:
Effective Water Recovery & Reuse
When feasible, treat water that has been
used once, for secondary use and reduce
demand for aquifer water supply.
Strategy
1. Rainwater Harvesting
2. Capture Greywater
Maximize Water Reduction
Install low flow and no-flow fixtures and
water efficient appliances as well as
implement water conservation practices.
Strategy
1. Low-Flow Fixtures
2. Water Efficient Appliances
3. Xeriscaping
3SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Introduction – Water
Vision for Water Use:
Maximize efficiency of water use across SMU-in-Taos through identifying inefficiencies, water use
reduction and effective water recovery & reuse.
Identify Inefficiencies
Identify the main uses of water to provide
adequate feedback to establish a hierarchal
action plan and feedback loop.
Strategy
1. Metered Faucets
2. Electronic Smart Metering
3. Efficient Irrigation Systems
Goal 2: Goal 3:
4. Opportunities for Improvement
Fixturesand
Appliances
Sensors&
Controls
Monitoring
• De-centralized metering (water) – no centralized approach.
• Multiple facilities associated to a single meter – difficult to establish baselines at individual building level.
• Lack of knowledge from operations crew regarding facilities mapping to meters.
• No current monitoring in place on campus – impossible to understand usage against baselines and predictability of
future use.
• Kitchen appliances are outdated, not water efficient.
• Some kitchen fixtures drip continuously.
• Manual water faucets run and/or drip while not in use.
• Showerheads, toilets and faucets are not low-flow.
• Real-time monitoring for each smart meter allows for data analysis to improve efficiencies.
• Provides a method to check for leaks and unwanted usage.
• When dashboards are placed in high traffic areas, students, faculty, and staff are educated and influenced regarding
water usage and "sustainability" remains top of mind.
Rainwater
Capture
GreyWater
Reuse
• Rainwater can be utilized for non-potable, large use functions such as washing dishes, clothes.
• Can be used for irrigation at new student center or Fort Burgwin.
• Can be a decentralized alternative water source when cleaning.
• Overflow can be plumbed to infiltration wells, providing localized aquifer recharge.
• Can serve as primary water source for all toilets in future construction.
• Can serve as primary water source for all toilets in future construction.
• Advanced systems can be filtered and used for irrigation.
SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan 4
5. Synergies and Constraints:
The marginal increase in cost for installing
metered faucets can often be recovered through
the reduction in both potable water demand and
waste water treatment. Reduction in demand
reduces waste water, and makes onsite waste
and greywater treatment facilities more feasible.
5SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Water – Identify Inefficiencies
Electronic Smart Metering
Meter large buildings and specific uses that require a significant
amount of water use. Metering provides detailed information
about where and when water is used. This information can be
used to identify leaks as well as which buildings are using more
water than average for their type. They also allow personnel to
track the success of water efficiency measures.
Smart Meters provide data at regular intervals remotely,
eliminating the need for personnel to constantly check
individual buildings.
Automated Faucets
Metered Faucets
Metered faucets ensure that water only runs when it is needed.
Traditional metered faucets run for a specific duration once
activated. Newer metered faucets use infrared (IR) sensors to
activate the flow of water only while hands are directly under
the tap. Existing faucets can have lever “smart faucet” meters
that perform the same role as IR sensors with a physical
mechanism.
Smart Meters
Efficient Irrigation Systems
Traditional spray irrigation systems waste large amounts of
water due to overspray, evaporation, and unnecessary
operation. Sensors, timers, and drip or sub-surface delivery can
significantly reduce irrigation demands.
Strive for 100% of drip irrigation water stemming from reclaimed
rainwater and/or filtrated greywater reuse.
Drip Irrigation
Synergies and Constraints:
Ideally, buildings and large users should be
metered before any water efficiency strategies
are implemented. The success of water reduction
strategies cannot be measured without first
establishing a baseline through metering. Smart
meters report data automatically, but older
meters require personnel to read meters, which
adds an additional cost in man hours.
Synergies and Constraints:
The cost of high efficiency irrigation systems may
be offset by the reduced need for personnel
through automation. Only those areas that will
always require large amounts of supplemental
irrigation, such as turf grass, are likely to be life
cycle cost effective.
Xeriscaping can work in conjunction with
rainwater drip irrigation to drastically reduce
water usage.
6. Synergies and Constraints:
Careful attention to species selection can save a
great deal of money in maintenance and
irrigation costs over the life of the landscaped
area. Native landscaping that requires minimal
attention and watering to thrive will make the
installation beautiful and connect it to the
surrounding tradition and natural setting of Taos.
Specifying native species also supports the
health of natural habitats.
6SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Water – Strategies for Reduction
Low-Flow Fixtures
Metered Low flow fixtures, especially toilets and urinals, reduce
the demand for potable water and the generation of waste
water simultaneously. Low flow fixtures should be a top priority
for any water conservation program.
Xeriscaping
Landscaping irrigation accounts for roughly half of domestic
water use in the US. Specifying only native or adaptive species
can eliminate the need for irrigation once plants are
established. All ornamental landscaping can be planted with
species that do not require additional watering. Species can be
further selected for ease of maintenance.
Synergies and Constraints:
Toilets and urinals can also utilize captured
rainwater or greywater reuse.
Water Efficient Appliances
Water efficient appliances use less water for the same task,
while reducing the volume of generated waste water for
treatment. Although implementing appliances such as dual-
flush toilets and/or front loaded wash machines throughout the
campus will be relatively expensive, the water savings for years
to come will be undeniable.
Synergies and Constraints:
Low-Flow Showerhead
Dual Flush Toilet
Xeriscaped Courtyard
Most major appliances are able to do the
same job while using much less water to
achieve the same goal. Front loaded
washing machines and dual flush toilets
can be implemented to help reduce
indoor water use by at least 450
gal/month.
7. Synergies and Constraints:
Rainwater is easier to use for more purposes
than greywater or treated blackwater, and should
therefore be considered before water re-use and
recycling systems. Not all roofing is suitable for
catchment – some contain fungicides or other
chemicals that could leech into rainwater.
Underground tanks must be fastened to keep
from floating when empty. Angled roofs work
better for recapture.
7SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Water – Recovery & Reuse
Capture Greywater
Greywater sources should be drained separately from
blackwater sources. Blackwater is waste water that has a high
biological load and risk of carrying human pathogens, primarily
from toilets and kitchen sinks. Greywater is drain-water from
most other sources: water which has never come into contact
with human effluent or biological risks associated with kitchen
sink or dishwasher water. Greywater is significantly lower risk
than blackwater, and can be reused for non-potable uses with
minimal treatment. Primary sources are showers, lavatory
faucets, and clothes washers. Captured greywater requires
storage tanks and filtration.
Metering Software
Rainwater Harvesting
Captured rainwater can be used with minimal treatment for
flushing toilets, running dish and clothes washers, and
irrigation. Precipitation can be captured from any hard surface.
Rooftop systems are most common due to proximity, ease of
storage, and quality. For potable uses, rainwater must be
passed through a fine filter and sterilized with chlorine or ultra-
violet light. Timing of rainfall does not match use, so storage
tank sizing is critical. In areas with little surface space,
underground tanks can be considered.
Synergies and Constraints:
Greywater re-used for irrigation may contain soaps
and salts that are harmful to plant life. Buildings with
greywater collection systems should use soaps that
are biodegradable, and building occupants should be
educated about the greywater and how their behavior
impacts these systems. Unlike treated blackwater,
which has had contact with human effluent,
greywater collected at the site of use does not have
additional pharmaceuticals or hormones, and is
therefore easier and safer to reuse.
Water cisterns: above ground (pictured top) and below ground (pictured here)
8. 8SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Phasing Approach & Recommendations
A strategic phased approach is the most practical implementation option for SMU-in-Taos. This methodology is highly recommended and
addresses two key objectives:
1.Establishes foundational knowledge and baselines that will be leveraged to further prioritize and define a tactical implementation roadmap for water
efficiencies.
2.Encourages the Lyle School of Engineering to define a continual learning experience and incorporate the living educational laboratory that provides
practical skillsets to students.
Community
Model
Establish Foundation
Quick Wins: Low Cost
Improvements
Implement and Retrofit
Future Development
Policies and Standards
Renewables
• Water Audits Campus WidePhase 1
• Metering & Sub-Metering
Phase 2
• Facility Water Baseline
• Prioritization Reassessment
• Rain Barrel Placement Plan
• Water Sense Appliances
• Funding Plan and Implementation
• Retrofitting Fixtures/Appliances
Phase 3 • Vending Machine Replacement
• New Fixtures
• Water Refill Stations
• Rain Barrel Execution
• Greywater reuse
• Community Outreach • Campus Education
Phase 4
Phase
5
• Define Policies
• Implementation
• Training
• Future Goals
• Dining Hall Dashboard and Cistern
• Rainwater reuse for laundry
9. 9SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Water – Policy Considerations
Correcting Inefficiencies Policies
1. Once baseline known and measured, installing
water meters will meter usage on all buildings with
smart meters that can be read remotely to ensure
continued accountability and measurement of
water usage
2. Automated faucets will decrease unnecessary
water usage in bathrooms
3. Drip irrigation coupled with rain sensors will only
irrigate landscape during times of low precipitation
- where needed.
4. Maintenance team to provide an acceptable
response time for repairing leaky fixtures as well
as scheduled routine maintenance.
5. Funding plan necessary to implement education
and water recapture/recovery (rain barrels and
cisterns).
Water Reduction Policies
1. Introduce low flow toilets (dual-flush),
showerheads and faucets in all new and
renovated facilities. Utilize Watersense approved
appliances and washers.
2. Develop an approved species list for landscaping
and stormwater projects focused on native or
adaptive drought-tolerant plants in an effort to use
less potable for irrigation
3. Informing tenants of their specific water usage by
monthly mock bills to encourage water saving
practices
4. Shower timers in the dorms will establish a time
limit on showers.
5. Campus will implement a purchasing program to
ensure that biodegradable cleaning products and
soaps are used, to prevent issues with septic
systems. Evaluate products with Green Seal,
Environmental Choice, Greenguard
6. Campus will implement a water pollution
prevention education program.
7. Policies will include towel and linen reuse plan for
guests.
8. Staff, who can be the best advocates for water
conservation, will have green practices and
conservation curriculum and receive training in
relation to roles as appropriate, annual.
9. Marketing and communications will reflect water
conservation priorities and campus signage will be
placed in highly visible locations to encourage
conservation.
Water Recovery & Reuse Policies
1. Ensuring rain water is captured and used for
irrigation, HVAC cooling towers, wash rack water
and other non-potable needs
2. Implement rainwater harvesting in the form of a
rain barrel catchment system from all sloped roofs
- water to be used for cleaning at a minimum.
3. Install district scale rainwater harvesting systems
for tightly clustered small buildings (e.g., Fort
Bergwin) when preferable to individual systems in
life-cycle cost analysis
4. Aggressively encourage grey water programs by
requiring all new and existing buildings to be
purple-pipe ready and provide infrastructure and
storage for reclaimed water
Campus teams provide vital input.
10. SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan 10
Water – Metrics
Base Case
The base case represents the total water consumption
of the campus based on current usage patterns. The
population of the installation is projected using
Department of Defense averages for personnel per
square foot (derived from the “Base Structure Report”),
and the current water consumption per person on
installation is then applied to projected population.
Total Water Consumption 2014: 2,220,000 gallons
Better Case
The better case represents the total water
consumption of the campus if the reduction and
recovery strategies are applied. Low flow fixtures and
efficient irrigation requires significantly less potable
water demand.
Total Water Consumption: by 10%
Best Case
The best case represents the total water consumption
of the campus if all of the strategies and policies in this
are adopted. Water reuse in the form of greywater
capture in addition to the reduction and recovery
strategies, and comprehensive policies on water
conservation make this case feasible.
Total Water Consumption: by 25%
2.2 Mil.
Gal/Yr
(Base)
1.9 Mil
Gal/Yr
(Better)
1.6 Mil.
Gal/Yr
(Best)
11. 11SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Introduction – Stormwater
Stormwater
The stormwater strategies to be used are primarily for erosion reduction.
Runoff can be diverted, absorbed by trees, planted strips, and more aggressive
strategies like constructed wetlands or engineered bioswales. Rainwater
harvesting reduces runoff while providing a renewable source of usable water.
Using captured stormwater instead of potable water for most appliances and
toilets should be a high priority; all stormwater can be captured or infiltrated
where it falls.
Reduce Runoff
Preserve Trees
Bio- Filtration
Features
Rainwater
Harvesting
Stormwater
Taos is an arid climate at an
altitude of 7,000 feet. Water is
vital, rainfall ~12 in per year, 2015
~20 in of rain. Snowfall is 29 in
per year and also has potential to
be recaptured.
12. Goal 1:
Efficient Stormwater Recovery
Capturing rainwater for human use directly
reduces runoff from roofs. Overflow from
storage tanks must be mitigated.
Strategy
1. Rainwater Harvesting (Overflow)
12SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Introduction – Stormwater
Vision for Stormwater Management:
Reduce runoff from impervious surfaces and utilize natural on-site resources through efficient stormwater
and snow recovery.
Reduction of Runoff
Reduce soil erosion by controlling runoff.
Strategy
1. Compact Development
2. Planting Strips
3. Infiltration Wells
4. Green Roofs
5. Engineered Wetlands and Bioswales
Goal 2: Goal 3:
Efficient Snow Recovery
Capturing snowmelt for human use directly reduces runoff
from roofs. Overflow from storage tanks must be mitigated.
Strategy
1. Snowmelt Harvesting (Overflow)
13. Synergies and Constraints:
A focus on compact, clustered development
within walkable distances supports numerous
strategies. It reduces vehicle miles travelled and
enhances the health of personnel on campus by
encouraging walking and cycling over driving.
13SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Stormwater – Strategies for Reduction
Compact Development
Reduces the impact on natural stormwater flows. Stormwater
can be redirected and slowed to mitigate erosion.
Planting Strips
Planting strips and vegetated swales along roads and sidewalks
can serve multiple purposes. They can absorb some of the
runoff from the adjacent hardscape and can further be used to
create buffers between pedestrian and vehicular rights of way.
Synergies and Constraints:
Once the space is allocated for a planted strip
between rights of way, trees can be added at a
later date. Planting strips coupled with bio swales
on the side of roads or porous pavement in
parking lots help reduce runoff.
Synergies and Constraints:
Infiltration wells not only have a positive impact
on the local groundwater conditions, they also
are an asset to have during water shortages and
water savings long-term.
Infiltration Wells
Infiltration wells can serve to recharge local aquifers as well as
increase the quantity of local groundwater. Stormwater can be
redirected to infiltration wells as well as service as overflow for
rainwater capture.
Compact Development
Planting Strips
Infiltration Wells
14. 14SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Stormwater – Strategies for Reduction
Green Roofs
Roofs represent as much as 50% of impervious surfaces in
developed areas. Green roofs can slow and absorb much of the
stormwater load. Plants on green roofs absorb stormwater
through their roots, and the planting medium can hold a certain
volume of water like a sponge. Stormwater is still discharged
from green roofs, but in significantly reduced volume,
temperature, and rate of flow.
Synergies and Constraints:
Green roofs actively cool their surroundings
through evapotranspiration. They absorb sunlight
and convert it into chemical energy through
photosynthesis instead of heat energy. In this
way, they can significantly reduce the cooling
loads of buildings on which they are installed.
Engineered Wetlands/Bioswales
Properly designed and constructed, engineered bio-filtration
features such as constructed wetlands and bioswales can be
used to mitigate stormwater runoff from areas of impervious
surface 20 times their size. These engineered features have
minimum dimensions of area, depth and slope, and require
engineered soils. They should be designed by landscape
professionals and civil engineers with experience in design of
low impact development features.
Synergies and Constraints:
These features require much larger contiguous
area and more careful planning than planting
strips to function properly. Furthermore, although
they may provide habitat and enhance a park
environment they should not be used directly for
recreation. Flow and drawdown time should be
optimized to ensure that there is never standing
water for any significant period of time.
Green Roof
Engineered Wetlands
15. Synergies and Constraints:
Increased area of collection and multiple uses go
hand in hand, and small systems are often not
able to scale up. In denser neighborhoods,
district rainwater harvesting may be substantially
cheaper per square foot than individual building
systems with varied uses. Shade trees near
buildings and landscaped setbacks can absorb
the excess water from stormwater tanks.
15SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Stormwater – Efficient Recovery
Rainwater Harvesting (Overflow)
Properly designed and installed rainwater harvesting systems
should capture water from as large an area as possible, and
use rainwater for as many uses as possible. Systems which
gather stormwater and treat it at the district or community scale
can be much more cost effective than redundant systems on
each individual building. In areas with high and/ or seasonal
rainfall, the rate of capture may be greater than the rate of use
for long periods. In these cases, storage tanks can overflow.
Overflow from rainwater storage tanks should be properly
managed: diverted into a rain garden or infiltration feature to
rapidly absorb excess stormwater discharge.
Rain Garden
16. 16SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan
Stormwater – Policy Considerations
Stormwater Reduction Policies
1. Installation will mandate compliance with EISA
Section 438 and Low Impact Development (LID)
strategies
2. Installation will require planting strips on all new
and upgraded road or parking projects
3. Campus will develop an approved species list for
landscaping and stormwater projects focused on
native or adaptive drought tolerant plants with
minimal maintenance needs
4. Campus will institute a tree preservation plan to
protect existing trees and require appropriate
fencing around primary root area of trees during
construction
Stormwater Management Policies
1. Campus will implement a stormwater maintenance
plan to include an integrated pest management
strategy to minimize storm water pollutants
Stormwater and Snow Recovery Policies
1. Campus will include rainwater harvesting on all
new buildings, or at minimum plan for future
systems if not installed at time of construction
2. Campus will require that all rainwater harvesting
systems include on-site infiltration of overflow from
storage tanks
Water on gravel drive near SMU in Taos casita
following a storm.
17. New Mexico Water Rights/Restrictions
• Rights are appropriated by priority
• "First in time, first in line"
• No formal laws in regards to ownership rainwater
• 1907 a Territorial Water Code was created which enables
water rights to be severed from the land
• Water rights in New Mexico are already claimed, which
means all developers must procure existing rights before
they can expand on existing sites
• This causes developers to put a fair amount of emphasis
into water conservation and other sustainable practices,
and in some cases the incorporation of rainwater
harvesting and filtered greywater reuse systems for
outside watering purposes into new developments.
SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan 17
18. Taos Water Priorities and Cultural Importance
Taos County Water Rights and Legal Agreements
• Pueblo and acequia rights and water use pre-date US and
guaranteed by treaty. Unique in American history.
• Water users of Taos County comply with Rio Grande and Rio
Castilla Interstate River Compacts
• Dictates use of two river systems while in Taos County
• National Forest public lands were established and justified to
“secure favorable water flow”
• Majority of Taos County watersheds managed by Carson in
the Ten Year Forest Plan
Taos County’s private land outside of municipalities
• Under jurisdiction of the following…
• New Mexico Subdivision Act
• Taos County Land Use Regulations
• Taos County Subdivision Regulations
Taos County Comprehensive Vision Plan and Goals reflects the
community’s priorities-respect for land and historical traditions
• Open space and acceptance for differences
• Agricultural land-based rural culture with strong water
and land traditions
• Rich cultural heritage and maintaining such
• It is advised for SMU-in-Taos to be cognizant and
respectful toward the comprehensive plan’s efforts
SMU-in-Taos Campus Sustainability Plan 18
