Water Stewardship

Facilities Management supports responsible water use across campus through conservation projects, efficient irrigation systems, raw water infrastructure, stormwater protection, and long-term planning.


Water Awareness on Campus

Each year, CSU staff members identify and complete water conservation projects throughout campus buildings. Projects include replacing sinks and toilets with low-flow or ultra low-flow fixtures, converting once-through cooling systems to closed-loop systems, and replacing wash-down equipment with low-flow devices where possible. Facilities Management also works with City staff to evaluate usage and define conservation projects, often with the benefit of financial rebates to CSU from the City of Fort Collins.

What Facilities Management is Doing

Water stewardship includes building conservation projects, efficient irrigation operations, stormwater protection, and sustainable landscape planning.

Building Conservation

Replacing fixtures, improving equipment, and identifying opportunities to reduce water use in campus buildings.

Efficient Irrigation

Managing more than 230 acres of grass and landscaping on CSU campuses in Larimer County.

Raw Water Use

Using untreated raw water for almost all campus irrigation, reducing the need for treated drinking water in landscape operations.

Water-Wise Landscapes

Supporting native plantings and xeric outdoor environments where possible and where they make sense for campus.

Stormwater Protection

Using stormwater control measures to help reduce pollution and protect the Poudre River and Spring Creek.

Partnerships & Rebates

Working with City staff to evaluate water use and identify conservation projects, including projects that may qualify for rebates.


Irrigation at CSU

CSU irrigates more than 230 acres of grass and landscaping on its campuses in Larimer County. Almost all irrigation uses untreated raw water that is stored in a lake on CSU’s Foothills Campus.

Irrigation Infrastructure

Irrigation operations include College Lake, a pumping station, a passive mechanical filter system, a four-mile-long 14-inch diameter transmission pipe, control systems, sensors, and staff system operators and technicians.

Why Use Raw Water?

Raw water does not have to be treated to drinking water standards, which requires a large amount of energy and chemicals. Because of this, the carbon footprint of raw water, including emissions from energy consumption, chemical manufacturing, and transportation, is a fraction of treated water.

Reducing Irrigation Needs

CSU landscape architects and planners steer toward native plantings and xeric outdoor environments wherever possible and where it makes sense. For example, many landscaped areas on Foothills Campus use native grasses and shrubs that require less irrigation than sod.

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Control Measures, or SCMs, are practices that help reduce water pollution. This is important because CSU’s stormwater system directly drains into the Poudre River and Spring Creek.

Stormwater Treatment Features

During the last twenty years, CSU has constructed dozens of stormwater treatment features, including rain gardens, bioswales, constructed wetlands, permeable pavement, and a green roof.