Water Efficiency at Stanford
Stanford has an extensive history of effective water conservation efforts, and in the face of recent and ongoing droughts has expanded its sustainable water practices by managing available resources to meet its needs, while preserving ecological systems and vital resources for future generations.
Water Conservation, Reuse, and Recycling Master Plan
In 2001, the University developed a formal plan to identify ways to keep water demand below the current San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Stanford allocation of 3.033 million gallons per day (mgd):
Water Conservation, Reuse, and Recycling Master Plan

The success of Stanford's Water Conservation and Efficiency Program is demonstrated by decreased domestic water use from 2.6 mgd in 2001 to 1.5 mgd in 2019, even with nearly 3 million square feet of campus facilities added.
Working with Customers

To promote and facilitate water efficiency, the Water Planning & Stewardship team actively works with its customers to identify opportunities for conservation, and researches and tests new technology to determine applicability for campus use, such as water efficient fixtures, landscaping irrigation equipment, and building and research equipment.