Water
Additional kiosks deliver better water, reduce waste
New WaterFillz kiosks are being installed in the three newest academic buildings on campus: Arts and Sciences II, Engineering, Management and Education, and the Health Sciences Centre. The kiosks provide fresh, free, filtered water to students, faculty and staff who bring their bottles to the stations for fill-up.
Installation of these new units -- which complement those already installed in University Centre and Science buildings -- is made possible by a partnership between the Sustainability Office and UBC Students' Union Okanagan.
The WaterFillz kiosks will help reduce plastic bottle waste generated on campus, with digital counters that will track the number of plastic bottles reduced. The units, which purify and cool the water, use only 12 watts of electricity in their ultraviolet purification stage. When the custom-designed refrigeration unit is running to cool the water to 38 degrees F, it only requires 46 watts of power versus vending machines that can draw over 1500 watts of power.
Enhancing Water Quality
Each non-residence water fountain on campus has been equipped with a Granular Activated Carbon water filter to decrease the usage of bottled water and improve the taste of campus water.
In addition, the UBC Students' Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) and UBC Okanagan Facilities have partnered to install a top-of-the-line water-dispensing unit in the main entrance of the Sciences Building. The PENTEK FreshPoint Ultrafiltration System is an advanced point of entry (POE) treatment device that improves water quality while preserving its beneficial minerals. UBC Okanagan is the first site in North America to install the ground-breaking system, which is extremely energy efficient. The $10,000 cost was shared equally between the UBCSUO and the UBC Okanagan Facilities department.
A second system installed in September 2009, as a UBCSUO initiative is a new "Water Stop" which is the source of water in the new Student Services Centre Building. Students, faculty and staff can fill up on safe, clean, tasty water free of charge without the wasteful plastic packaging. All water used by the student union food services will be filtered through SafeStar machines, this includes, fountain pops, all sinks, and coffee machines.
In 2010 the Sustainability Office is partnering with the Student's Union on installing Water Stops in new academic buildings.
Conserving Water
- Hunter Wireless System: wireless irrigation system that adjusts or ceases watering times based on temperature, precipitation, and wind speed.
- Astroturf sports field: eliminates water required for irrigation
- Low flow fixtures in all new buildings: reduces unnecessary water use
Last reviewed 
2/18/2011 11:11:41 AM
