As a shared resource, water use on campus is carefully monitored. Much of the University’s water comes from local sources such as Spring Lake, the San Marcos River, and an Edwards Aquifer well behind Jackson Hall. This water supports power and chiller plants as well as irrigation, with two of the three chiller plants using reclaimed lake water instead of aquifer water. Xeriscaping is used when possible to reduce water consumption.
The University follows city and state regulations that limit water pumping through a permitted allocation system based on flow rates. During drought conditions, river water use is reduced and daytime fountain operation is restricted to minimize evaporation.
Students receive guidance on responsible water use through dorm meetings and campus-wide emails, and conservation fixtures like low-flow showerheads and automatic shut-off faucets are installed across campus.
A rainwater catchment system is also being built near the agriculture building, featuring a 10,000-gallon cistern that will collect rooftop rainwater for reuse.