Sustainability

The water we drink on campus originates from rainfall in the Catskill Mountains that flows into the Ashokan Reservoir of Ulster County as well as rainfall that falls upon the Shawangunk Ridge that flows into the Village of New Paltz's water treatment facility.  Our water is the same water that feeds New York City residents.

Water Bottle Filling Stations

SUNY New Paltz has retrofitted and installed over 65 water bottle refill stations across campus.  It is now easier than ever to drink local water at SUNY New Paltz.  The majority of the water flowing through taps at the college comes from the Catskill Watershed.  Water fountains with bottle filling stations is the campus standard for all new construction projects.

Water Conservation Campus Standards

SUNY New Paltz Campus Design Standards for new construction and major renovation projects specify the following domestic water conservation measures:

• Low flow faucets– Our standard faucet for bathrooms has a flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm), well under the LEED maximum of 2 gpm for faucets.  Our standard faucets are equipped with automatic hands-free sensors, so water only flows when demanded, or are self-closing/metered, so they automatically shut off after the programmed duration.  All faucets include water-saving aerators.
• Low flow toilets– In public spaces such as academic buildings, our standard toilets flush automatically and have a flow rate of fewer than 1.3 gallons per flush (gpf).  Our standard toilets for residence halls are dual-flush toilets with two rates of flow: 1.1 gpf and 1.6 gpf.  Our toilet standards meet the requirements for LEED.
• High-efficiency urinals– Our standard urinal is nearly waterless and has a flow rate of 0.125 gpf.
• Low flow showerheads– Our standard showerheads use 1.5 gpm, under the LEED maximum of 2 gpm.