Issues in Water Consumption and Salt Use at Bryant University

Sarah Rozenberg, Michelle Scali,

Blair Stone, Alejandro Votteler















COM 367
Professor Kevin Pearce
May 1, 2014


A recent trend on college campuses is sustainability and conservation of resources. Each
school is evaluated based on various characteristics and efforts towards preserving resources and
educating the public about environmental issues. Until this semester, little was done on Bryant
Universitys campus. Looking at the university, some of the main issues include energy
conservation and the damage from the salt used in snow removal.
From a university perspective, sustainability is not only important for the reputation and
credibility of an institution, but for keeping operating costs low and maintaining the land and
resources available. Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Huang, 2011).
Focusing on environmental sustainability is extremely significant for keeping Bryants campus
healthy and thriving. The way we treat and protect our campus affects everything from the air we
breathe to the water we drink to the buildings we inhabit. Teaching the importance of
sustainability to students at the college level and earlier is crucial.
Bryant University was accredited by the AASHE's Sustainability Tracking and Rating System
(Bryant University Snow, 2013) in 2013. Bryants sustainability efforts integrate operations and facilities,
student engagement, curriculum, and policy in order to achieve sustainability throughout the 8 domains
specified in the 2013 Sustainability Report. These domains include academics and research, energy,
building and land use, health and wellness, transportation, waste reduction, water, and community
engagement. Our proposal will be aligned with Bryants collaborative process and will intertwine water
reduction, community engagement, and academics and research in order to provide the university with
cost effective sustainable solutions. Our goal, as well as the universities, is to reach gold status and boast
Bryants strong alliance to the environment.
One of the main areas for improvement that Bryant should address is the way they
remove and melt snow on campus. Bryant has chosen to focus on cost effectiveness by
purchasing chemicals which are powerful, although extremely harmful to the environment. The
EPA estimates that the eastern and northern sectors of the country use more than 90% of
approximately 10 tons of salt each year (Source Water, 2010).
During the winter months, Bryant facilities uses harmful materials such as magnesium
chloride, and salt to melt the snow in order for students to be mobile around campus.(Bryant
University Snow, 2013).Bryant University uses a 3:1 sand to salt ratio which lessens the harmful
effects of salt on soil, and water sources. Even still, much can be done to reduce the dependency
on sand because many studies have shown abrasives to be more harmful than deicers (
AASHTO, 2013). The state of Rhode Island typically uses a sand to salt ratio of 1:1 while at the
same time using Brine anti-icing, pre-wetting, and de-icing techniques (RI Division of Planning,
2014). These techniques are applied before snowfall and can be effective up to 72 hours before
snow starts to accumulate.
Sand has harmful effects on water quality, aquatic species, air quality, vegetation, and
soil composition (AASHTO, 2013). They can also incur heavy hidden costs related to cleanup
and damage of the roadside vegetation. Suspended particles related to the cleanup of sand can
also be a risk to air quality. Under the Clean Air Act particles smaller than 10 microns are
regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Magnesium chloride also
creates lasting environmental impacts because of its chloride component. This is subject to the
landscape and application rates used, but can affect soil, water quality, and aquatic species
(AASHTO, 2013).
Along with decreasing the amount of sand and salt mixture used, pre-wetting allows sand
and salt to stick to pavement reducing the impacts of runoff into grass and water sources. Brine is
a saltwater solution that is applied before snowfall as well which allows the salt to stick to the
pavement and prevents ice from sticking to the pavement. Rhode Island owns a Brine making
facility that can produce up to 5000 gallons per hour located off Exit 7 on Interstate 95. This
facility is located very close to Bryant University and could be used as a potential source for
Brine Solution. According to a survey by the Rhode Island Division of Planning in which 25% of
the municipalities replied, only Central Falls reported using saltwater brine (RI Division of
Planning, 2014).
Water consumption at Bryant University has reached a yearly total of 68,945,300 gallons
of water costing the university about $323,781. In 2008 the University significantly lowered its
water consumption but since then the consumption has been rising. This consumption is directly
correlated with the use of electricity used in the water heaters, and energy used to transport the
water from the Scituate Reservoir to Bryant University. It is important that we try to limit the use
of the Scituate Reservoir since it provides 60% of Rhode Island residents with drinking water.
Over consumption of water could lead to the decimation of this precious resource and would cost
the state millions to find another source.
More recently the Rhode Island Transportation Department has begun testing 1,100 miles
of highway to test the efficiency of saltwater brine. The Bryant University snow removal plan is
called to action when snowfall exceeds 3 inches and snow removal teams are contacted at least 2
hours before snowfall. (Exhibit 1) Our suggestion for Bryant would be to implement pre-wetting
using a salt brine solution 24 hours before the snow is forecasted. This would save the University
in overtime cost because the deicers and plows will clean the roads more effectively.
The next issue we will address is that of water consumption. In the STARS Sustainability
Report, Bryant University pledges to reduce campus wide water consumption 10% by 2020. Our
proposal reduces water consumption by 14% and has a relatively low implementation cost. (See
Exhibit 2) We will be proposing a complete renewal of all showerheads on campus to EPA
certified showerheads that reduce water flow to 1.5 gallons per minute. Calculated cost and
return on investment are trivial compared to the benefits the campus and the surrounding
ecosystem. (See Exhibit 3)
Combining these new technologies along with active community involvement and
education will further inflate the return on investment. Duke University had implemented the
same strategy when they were hit with a drought in 2007. The university then purchased 10,000
low flow showerheads and distributed them among students, and facilities and ultimately saved
73 million gallons of water (Duke,2014). One of their cost effective strategies was to place
informational signs in front of stalls, sinks, and even in showers to make people aware about the
impact of water usage on the environment. Bryant University, along with purchasing the
showerheads could challenge its students to lower shower times in order to reduce water
consumption. Saving water also reduces heating, and electricity bills at the school.
In order to come up with the best solutions for Bryant University, it was necessary to
look into what the Universitys current efforts entailed. The main organization behind the most
effective sustainability efforts is the Sustainability Ambassador Program. The organization is
meant to be a support and training group for students who have a passion for improving positive
change in the community and the environment. The ambassadors coordinate events to educate
the community and begin sustainable efforts on campus.
This semester, the Sustainability Ambassadors sponsored Recyclemania with Facilities
on campus in order to compete in Campus Conservation nationals. They also created a
competition between halls 14, 15 and 16 to reduce their electricity consumption during the
competition. This event rewarded the hall which decreased their usage by the most with a
Chipotle burrito bar. The competition was only in the first-year halls because they are the only
hall which get an accurate reading. The effort was very successful and showed great potential for
the Sustainability Ambassadors and making efforts towards sustainability.
Another effort by the Sustainability Ambassadors, Facilities and the Sustainability
Committee also hosted an Electronic Recycling Drive. The effort allowed members of the
community to drop off difficult to recycle electronics which are usually thrown away. The event
allowed this group to recycle or donate 6,266 lbs of electronics to Goodwill. This was Bryants
first Electronic Recycling Drive and it was a huge success. These programs put on by the
Ambassadors and other groups show the potential for change on Bryant Universitys campus.
Looking at all of the current University efforts and the efforts of other Universities, there
are many possible solutions for Bryant to implement and many factors to consider. Cost is one
of the most important factors to look at. The cost of implementing these solutions in the short
term is very expensive, something that has to be taken into account. Another factor to look at
when evaluating solutions is the time it will take to see effective changes. The shorter the time it
will take to implement a solution, the better it will be for the university. If it takes a long time
before changes are seen, it defeats the whole purpose of trying to sustain energy in a timely
manner. The last factor to consider is the amount of change the solution will incur. The solution
that will improve the environment the most would be the best choice for the university. The main
goal is to make Bryant a more sustainable campus. The solutions we choose must overall
improve the environment and help sustain Bryants campus.
The first of our proposed solutions for snow removal at Bryant is pre-wetting the salt
with beet juice. This technique is currently being used by Western Michigan University and has
many benefits, including lowering the amount of salt used, therefore reducing the cost, and
reducing the amount of salt that gets scattered (Annual Report, 2013). Using beet juice is 100
percent organic, is environmentally friendly, and starts the process of de-icing immediately,
which reduces the time spent on removing ice and snow. The results of using salt treated with
beet juice show that 14.9 tons are used, as compared to 20.4 tons without beet juice. This saves
almost 5 tons of salt on average, which contributes to the benefits of using beet juice on the salt
for snow and ice removal.
The second proposed solution is to have a competition similar to the Electricity reduction
competition, but with water. The success that the Sustainability Ambassadors had with their
efforts provides support to run this type of event again. In order to improve the success of the
competition, our group proposes an additional educational campaign to run along-side it. The
Ambassadors provided tips to students on how to reduce their electricity, but we would like to go
beyond that and teach the students about the consequences that may result due to their
negligence and waste. We propose to put posters with facts about world water consumption
around the first-year halls and on all the televisions throughout campus. Due to the availability of
accurate water meters, not all halls would be able to participate, therefore replacing the water and
electricity meters in future years is a way to keep students all over campus accountable.
In order to fund these projects Bryant University is in the process of establishing a Green
Revolving Fund. This fund works by securing funding for cost effective solutions to
sustainability and cycling the savings into other investments. With savings incurred by reducing
water consumption Bryant University can then invest these savings into purchasing saltwater
brine or even purchasing their own brine making tanks to use on campus.
Replacing all of the shower heads in every dorm is costly, but will benefit the university
and save money in the long term. The process of changing the showerheads can be done in a
timely manner over the summer or winter break. By changing all of the showerheads to new ones
that reduce water consumption, there will be less water wasted. This solution is the best one
because it will lower costs in the future, takes little time to implement, and will help reduce the
amount of water used in the dorms.
Using a pre-wetting salt brine for snow removal is an extra cost in the short term, but will
save money on overtime costs in the long term. The changing of both the new salt brine for
easier snow removal and new showerheads that reduce water flow are both solutions that can be
done quickly and show positive change quickly. By changing the chemicals used for snow
removal, there will be less harmful effects on the environment. In particular, changing the pre-
wetting solution to beet juice will be the most effective solution. It is cost effective, takes the
least amount of time to change, and it is better for the environment.

















Exhibit 1.












Exhibit 2.




Exhibit 3.

Works Cited

Annual Report: Facilities Management Department. (2013). Retrieved from

file:///C:/Users/student/Downloads/FM%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202013.pdf

Bankowski, M. (2014, 02 11). Westerns first sustainability conference draws more than
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5ac6b530-933a-11e3-b737-0017a43b2370.html

Big: Brown is green. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.brown.edu/initiatives/brown-is-green/
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22/
Bryant University Sustainability Plan. (2013, October 1). . Retrieved April 28, 2014, from
http://www.bryant.edu/resources/files/About/Sustainability%20Plan%2011-5-13.pdf
Buechner, M. (2007). 3 Change your lightbulbs. (Cover story). Time, 169(15), 70.
College tries varied methods to compost campus organics. (1997). BioCycle, 38(3), 25.
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Marketing Science, 39(1), 40-54. doi:10.1007/s11747-010-0193-6
Organizational Policy and Resource Guide. (2013, January 1). Organizational Policy and
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Guide. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from
http://policies.bryant.edu/ba/facilities/gdepartment.htm
Road Salt/Sand Application in Rhode Island. (2013, March 31). . Retrieved April 28, 2014, from
http://www.planning.ri.gov/documents/LU/TP_163.pdf
The college sustainability report card: Bryant university. (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2011/schools/bryant-university

"UI Crews to Use Eco-friendly Deicer This Winter." The University of Iowa. The
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19 Nov. 2010. Web.

<http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/news/ui-crews-to-use-eco-friendly-deicer-this-winter/>.

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"Duke." Sustainability : Water Conservation. Duke University, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
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Sustainability Ambassador E-mail



Campus Conservation Nationals



Results from Electronic Recycling Drive



Bryants Electronic Recycling Drive, February 25th




Help Bryant Win Recyclemania




Help Bryant Compete in Campus Conservation Nationals




Idea Evaluation Chart

Idea Cost Time before
change occurs
Amount of
change
Current: Using
harmful,
inexpensive
chemicals for
snow removal
Low None None
Using beet juice
to remove snow
Minimal Immediately Medium
Replacing
shower heads
High Immediately High
Water reduction
competition
Low Immediately Medium
Installing meters
to accurately
measure water
usage in
residence halls
Medium Significant time None unless
information is
used and
consequences
are created and
enforced
Using alternative
chemicals for
snow removal
High Immediately High