James Holloway, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of New Mexico | The University of New Mexico
James Holloway, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of New Mexico | The University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been recognized with a water conservation award for saving 2.85 million gallons annually through a collaborative project between UNM Utility Services and UNM Hospital. The award was presented by Industrial Water Engineering (IWE) as part of its Impact on Water, Efficiency, & the Environment (IWEE) initiative, acknowledging significant improvements in operations through efficiency and performance optimization.
Since summer 2023, UNM noticed that steam demand on campus was lower than the output from the cogeneration units at the Ford Utilities Center, leading to waste heat. UNM's Utility Services teamed up with UNMH Facilities to redirect excess steam to UNMH, allowing condensed water to return to UNM.
Despite initial incompatibility in water treatment programs between both facilities, the teams integrated the systems and successfully tested the new process in summer 2024. By standardizing the condensate treatment, the institutions saved water while cutting down on chemical usage.
"This project required coordination between the facility teams at UNM and UNM Hospital, including the water team and plant engineers. This has greatly reduced the water and chemical consumption at the facility for a positive environmental and financial impact to the University," according to the award announcement.
"Congratulations to Utilities Services and UNMH on this well-deserved award," stated Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president for Finance and Administration. "Saving 2.85 million gallons of water annually, plus the chemical reduction, is amazing."
Shawna Wolfe, vice president for Institutional Support Services, added, "Congratulations to the team at Utilities Services for your efforts, this award, and contributing to something so meaningful for New Mexico. I am also grateful for UNMH's partnership."
Chemical savings from this process are estimated at $5,000 annually. UNM Utility Services manages essential utilities across the campus, emphasizing sustainability and efficient operations. IWE, a leader in specialized water treatment solutions since 1980, supports these initiatives with a strong focus on sustainability.
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