Heavy rain in February has increased the University’s irrigation water supply.The float gauges on two cisterns located at Main Campus Building indicate levels are above the 9 foot mark, equivalent to almost 41,000 gallons of rainwater per tank.
The rainwater, along with condensate from Main Campus Building’s heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, is collected in the two 50,000 gallon galvanized cisterns located on the east side of Main Campus.
“The water collected is for irrigation purposes,” said Marshall Lasswell, director of facilities and physical plant.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map indicates that Bexar County continues to be in a moderate drought. But water in the cisterns, campus officials say, will help plants and trees thrive during the dry period.
ValleyCrest, a landscaping company, is contracted to tend to landscaping and irrigation needs once a week, Lasswell said.
Water from the cisterns is drawn from an electrical pump and distributed to the timer-controlled sprinkler system around the perimeter the building. The water supply is also used for the circulation of the outdoor fountains.
The cisterns are part of an internationally recognized building standard called LEED, Lasswell explained.
The cisterns have been in use since August 2011. Lasswell said the same irrigation practices will be included in the design phases of the two building plans which were recently approved for the University.
“It is our intent to incorporate the cisterns into the design of future buildings,” Lasswell said.
The design phase for the two buildings is expected to begin later this year.