Water

Water Source

We purchase 80% of our water from the City of Houston (see rates).  The remaining 20% is supplied by an on-campus well.

Water Conservation Successes

Groundwater Reclamation

Rice Stadium opened in 1950, and for almost 55 years pumps removed groundwater from under the stadium and discharged it directly into the storm sewer.  In the spring of 2005, a capital project was completed that captures this groundwater and uses it to irrigate the adjacent football practice field along Rice Blvd.  The anticipated water savings associated with this project are so significant that the estimated payback period for the project is less than two years.  Read more...

Waterless Urinals

During the fall semester of 2004, Rice University installed two waterless urinals in a first floor restroom of the Anderson Biology Laboratory as part of a broader ongoing research effort to test environmentally preferable technologies and products on campus.  A typical waterless urinal is estimated to save 40,000 gallons of water every year.  Signs were placed adjacent to the urinals to educate restroom users of the environmental benefits (including water savings) related to waterless urinals.  Feedback received indicated an improvement in restroom hygiene and odor due to the waterless urinals, thanks to their hands-free operation and the elimination of flushing-related splashes. 

A third waterless urinal was installed during the summer of 2005 in a second floor restroom in the Herman Brown building.  A fourth was installed in January 2006 in a first floor restroom of the Abercrombie Engineering Lab.  A fifth was added in June 2006 in the restroom of the Facilities Engineering and Planning building.

Last updated: June 8, 2006