What our future holds.....

From our research regarding the Master Plan, campus water useage, campus water quality and future preparaion, Cal Poly is not ready for the big changes we are going to face.

We feel like the expected growth on campus stated in the Master Plan is underestimated, also the Master plan has no deadline. It can take the administration years to do all the changes stated in there.

The water usage on Campus is not effeciently monitored; some buildings' meters are broken or not installed at all. It is not a big concern for anyone on campus to conserve water since they dont know the danger we are facing with water shortages. Changes and Public awareness must be delivered to correct these problems. Links on your left lead to pages we designed to help solve this problem. They contained suggested ideas to conserve water on campus, a voting section reflecting public opinion and a forum for everyone to share ideas.

Money is the key to any water conservation plans on campus. If it is not feasible or risk is invovled, the CSU administration would not approve. However, we feel that the CSU administration can only ignore this problem for so long. Eventually, they will face the problem on the quality and quantity of water due to increase in enrollment and campus developments. Then what? It is our concern that the campus should start looking into plans to increase water efficiency on campus. Below is an analysis of the Cal Poly masterplan concerning water use and expected growth.

Below is an analysis of Cal poly master plan in regards to water.

Significance Thresholds

Water
Water service impacts are evaluated based on the demands for water created by the Master Plan and the supply available. A significant impact would occur if the amount of water required by the Master Plan would require expansion of existing facilities or construction of new facilities which would have adverse effects on the environment.

Wastewater
Impacts to wastewater service are considered significant if either 1) Master Plan implementation would cause the City of San Luis Obispo's wastewater treatment capacity to be exceeded or 2) if sewage conveyance infrastructure is inadequate to handle Master Plan-related demands, and expansion would have an adverse impact on the environment.

San Luis Obispo Waste Water Treatment Plant

Impacts

Beneficial Impacts
The University is currently working with the City to establish a system using reclaimed water to irrigate the
Sports Complex. Use of reclaimed water would have a beneficial impact on Cal Poly's domestic water supply.

Continuation of the Cal Poly recycling program, which has been successful at meeting state mandates, will
continue to be beneficial in its reduction of the waste stream.

Water
The Master Plan is expected to result in an additional 3,000 student residents and 465 additional faculty and
staff. The Plan will also result in approximately eleven acres of additional recreational fields, and approximately nine acres of green space (non-athletic turf). Water demand factors from apartment-style housing facilities at the University of California Santa Barbara campus were used to project water demand in the residence halls.

City and County water demand factors were used to calculate staff (office) demand. Water demand for
landscape irrigation was based on current per acre usage at the University. Total projected demand, compared with existing use and the University's total domestic Whale Rock water allocation is summarized in Table 6.25 below.

Source: Ed Johnson, Utilities Coordinator, Cal Poly, 2000 and City of San Luis Obispo Water Demand Factors

City of San Luis water supply models show that during worst-case weather cycle conditions, Cal Poly demand would exceed supply. During normal rain years, it is likely that considerably more water would be available to Cal Poly; impacts are significant, but mitigable (Class II).

Wastewater

The Master Plan would increase wastewater generation on campus and could adversely impact the wastewater collection system serving the University. The Master Plan could also impact the capacity of the City's wastewater treatment plant. The potential increase in wastewater associated with the Master Plan could reach 0.159 million gallons per day, based on 3,000 student residents generating 50 gallons of wastewater per day. Additional faculty and staff proposed under the plan may generate as much as 9,300 gallons per day for a total of 0.168 million gallons per day.

Cal Poly is entitled to 0.471 mgd of treatment at the City plant. Cal Poly currently averages 0.323 mgd. The
plant is planning to increase capacity to 5.8 mgd average dry weather flow. As part of this expansion, Cal Poly's entitlement will be increased. Impacts on the system will be less than significant (Class III).

The University's wastewater collection infrastructure is currently operating well below capacity (1.2 mgd); however, storm runoff often exceeds this capacity. The Public Facilities and Utilities Element of the Master Plan calls for improvement of the stormwater system, which should decrease the impact on the collection system. Impacts related to infrastructure collection are therefore considered less than significant (Class III).

Cumulative Impacts

Water
Cumulative growth in the City of San Luis Obispo will place additional strain on Whale Rock Reservoir. During drought, the burden would be intensified. The City is exploring means to expand their water supply; Cal Poly is projected to remain within their allocation, with the implementation of mitigation below. Cumulative impacts are significant, but mitigable (Class II).

Wastewater

The wastewater system serving the campus and the City is undergoing expansion to increase capacity. Proposed expansions should be sufficient to meet needs of the University and the City of San Luis Obispo.

Mitigating Measures

Water
Because future water demand will begin to tax the University's supply of Whale Rock water, the following
programs should be instituted:
" Water Conservation Program. The University should develop a program designed to reduce overall
water consumption on campus. The program will incorporate water-saving fixtures into new
development, retrofit older facilities over time, and modify landscaping irrigation requirements.
" Drought contingency plan. As part of implementation of the Master Plan, the University will draft a
drought contingency plan to address potential water shortages associated with extended drought
conditions.
" Additional Water Supply. The University should investigate the availability of additional water
supplies over the next twenty-year horizon.

Residual Impacts

Residual impacts are less than significant.