The University's Facilities Design Guidelines identify specific or unique standards and requirements for University projects. These guidelines supplement and are in addition to mandatory codes, industry standards or other authoritative resources applicable under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Federal Government. The Facilities Design Guidelines include the following specific additional design requirements for domestic water systems:

• Prohibit the use of domestic water in single pass air conditioning units.
• Mandate the use of central chiller plants and recirculating chilled water systems as a source of cooling.
• Mandate the use of building boilers or central heating plants and recirculating hot water as a source of heating.
• Mandate the installation of metering at all new buildings.
• Mandate the separate metering of water used in irrigation systems.
• Mandate the separate metering of boiler, chiller, and cooling tower make-up and blow-down.
• Mandate the pressure testing of all new water line construction to 200 psi.
• Mandate the use of low flow water closets, urinals, and shower heads.

The University has an ongoing program to detect, eliminate and avoid water loss from its distribution system. This program includes:

• Projects to evaluate, upgrade, and replace water pumping and distribution systems based on the UVA Utilities Master Plan and the Utilities Infrastructure Spending Plan.
• Ongoing work to fully meter water usage in all buildings. Currently, approximately 70% of the building area at UVA is metered.
• Monthly analysis of water consumption trends for those buildings and systems that are metered.
• Monthly comparisons of total water usage to individual metered areas to identify possible system leaks.
• The immediate repair of leaks.

The University is in the process of implementing several water conservation projects. This long-term program includes:

• Installation of central chilled water systems to eliminate the use of domestic water for process cooling applications.
• Expansion of central plant chilled water systems to reduce the number of stand-alone chiller systems that consume more water and electricity.
• Replacement of "grandfathered" water closets and shower heads.
• Use of state-of-the-art irrigation systems, which have sensing devices that shut-off the sprinklers when the minimum soil moisture content is satisfied.
• Conversion of cooling and research equipment from domestic water use to chilled water.
• Testing of water conserving products such as waterless urinals, and the implementation of any such products that are proven to be effective at reducing water consumption while not adversely impacting operating and maintenance costs or customer service.

Educational activities at the University include:

• Periodic articles about water as a resource in UVA newsletters and newspapers.
• A booth about water conservation at the annual "Energy Awareness Day" event.
• Distribution of information about water conservation at employee and student orientation programs.
• Distribution of mugs and brochures that encourage recycling and water conservation.

The University has a drought management program that is tiered to the severity of the community drought conditions. During dry or drought conditions, a task force comprised of the Chief Facilities Officer (CFO); the deputy CFO; the Director of Utilities; the Energy Program Manager; the Assistant Vice Presidents for Health Systems, Business Operations, and Research; the Director of Athletics; and the CEO of the UVA Foundation convenes to respond to community water shortages. Decisions concerning the extent of UVA response and level of water curtailment are made relative to the severity of the community water shortage.