Drought, a prolonged period of below-average precipitation, results in water shortage for people and the environment. In California, past droughts have caused dairy operations to close, farmland to go fallow, livestock to require expensive supplemental feed, high forest and wildlife mortality, and the two most obvious outcomes that every Bay Area resident experiences – water-use restriction and fires. Despite San Francisco receiving over 159% of its normal rainfall this year, water conservation remains a top priority at UCSF. According to Eli Perszyk, UCSF's Conservation Program Manager, “Even though we experienced an exceptional rainy season, California is still grappling with the effects of a 23-year drought cycle, and long-term drought risks remain high.” The Facilities team has been making efforts to ensure that UCSF remains proactive in conserving water and preparing for the ongoing uncertainty of California's climate:
What we have done
At UCSF, we take drought very seriously. To mitigate its impact on our mission of supporting education, research, health, and community, we have:
Native, drought-resistant plants on the Dolby building rooftop.
- UCSF has reduced water consumption factored by campus population by 58 percent from the 2007 baseline year, ahead of the UC systemwide goal of a 36 percent reduction by 2025
- We've planted native, drought tolerant plants at Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building rooftop, which has already reduced water consumption by 30%. As the landscaping matures, we expect to save up to 40% next year.
- We installed Kuraia, a drought-resistant plant, replacing traditional lawns at Mission Hall and Sandler Court, reducing water use by an impressive 60%.
- At the Parnassus Central Utility Plant, purified water reject is recycled for use as cooling tower make-up
- Steam systems have been upgraded to minimize water and energy consumption, with new projects currently in progress
- Restroom fixtures have been replaced with high-efficiency fixtures, with a current project at Mission Bay replacing urinals with 0.125gpf units
- Facilities collaborates with research to replace old high water consumption equipment, with new high-efficiency equipment
- Facilities offers installation of faucet 1.5gpm laminar flow restrictors to all research laboratories
- Buildings are being washed with recycled water
- Housing has retrofit all showerheads and faucets with low-flow devices
- Fitness encourages members to take 3-minute showers
- Lawn irrigation has been turned down for recreational outdoor space, with irrigation turned off to non-recreational lawns
- Landscape areas have been replanted with drought-tolerant vegetation, and irrigation has been upgraded to high-efficiency drip irrigation
- UCSF is developing feasibility studies analyzing water recycling and stormwater collection opportunities
- Block 34, under construction now, has been designed with a unique cooling system that does not require cooling towers, eliminating 100% of HVAC system water use
- Health recently completed water efficiency audits of Moffitt, Long, ACC, and Mt. Zion Hospital, and is preparing to implement water reduction recommendations
- Mission Bay Hospital uses recycled water for irrigation of landscaping
What you can do
On site
- Report water leaks on Campus to Facilities Customer Service, 415-476-2021
- Report water leaks or overuse in hospitals and clinics to UCSF Health Facilities & Support Services by submitting a work order
- Minimize your personal water use
- Contact the Facilities Energy & Water team to discuss conservation measures you can take in research operations. Contact Eli Perszyk at Eliahu.Perszyk@ucsf.edu
At home
- Be mindful of water use indoors, especially as the rainy season approaches.Implement simple habits like fixing leaks, using water-efficient appliances, and reducing water use in labs and work areas.
- The UCSF community can take action by learning about water conservation and resources from their local water agencies:
Pop quiz
Are you here to see how well you did on the Twitter pop quiz? Dive in.
Q: How many people in California are affected by drought?
A: 37.2 Million
Q: Over the last 128 years, which year was the driest?
A: 2022
Q: “Exceptional” drought, the worst level of drought, is seen on how much of California?
A: 44 percent of the state
Q: How much energy goes into using water in California?
A: 19 percent of total energy goes to water-related uses
This effort is co-endorsed by the UCSF Health COO and the FAS Senior Vice Chancellor
Erin S. Gore
Senior Vice Chancellor
Finance and Administration
Sheila Antrum Chief
Operating Officer
UCSF Health
At UCSF, we take drought very seriously. Our efforts mitigate its impact on our mission of supporting education, research, health, and community.
