UCSC replacing hundreds of water meters across campus
The University of California Santa Cruz is replacing hundreds of water meters across campus. The new “smart” meters can measure how much water is being used on an hourly basis.
By monitoring usage over a period of time, leaks can be more easily detected. Instead of waiting weeks for a monthly water bill, users have to wait only a few hours to find out about their water usage and are able to make changes immediately.
“We wouldn’t know about leaks until we noticed them on the water bill,” Patrick Testoni, UCSC campus energy manager said. “So what better avenue than to quickly identify leaks and have this information come in every day.”
So far, 40 of about 50 meters have been installed on the main campus and at the Marine Science Campus. According to Randolph Skrovan, facilities manager at the Long Marine Laboratory, the technology has helped save water.
“We now know that’s a problem. We can replace that solenoid and we can save even more water. And this is something we could’ve never seen when we just saw a monthly water bill,” Skrovan said.
Saving more water is what the director of housing facilities hopes to do also.
“Prior to the tracking system,” Chris Attias said. “We did not have a good idea about where we were seeing leaks particularly, and we were not getting data that we could pass on to our students about their water usage in order for them to behaviorally change their usage patterns.”
But changing patterns isn’t something Andrew Franco has to do. The water-wise junior already watches his consumption in the dorms. In fact, he hopes it brings attention to the seriousness of the drought.
“It’s a critical piece of information to know,” Franco said. “OK, you use this much water, then you see this big number and you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness!’ It’s a tremendous amount, thousands of gallons.”
Some students may find an easier time conserving than others.
“Some people do take very long showers still,” Attias said. “But a lot of them are reducing their water usage.”
School officials hope to have all the meters upgraded by the end of May.
