Towards a Green Campus: Assessment of Sustainable Water Use and Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology Campuses.
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Date
2023-01
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Namibia University of Science and Technology
Abstract
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) was amongst the top 40 water consumers in
the drought year of 2019. Currently, the university does not have an Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) which allows it to formulate strategies to conserve and manage resources on campus and thus does
not yet comply with legislation that requires such Public Sector institutions in Namibia to implement one.
A Water Management Strategy (WMS) forms one aspect of an EMP which will assist in the formulation of
strategies to conserve and manage environmental resources on campus in the future. This study
contributes baseline information towards the development of a WMS which will help the university play
its part in addressing the chronic water shortage suffered in Namibia.
To understand the water consumption patterns and associated costs three campuses at NUST in
Windhoek were studied. Surveys and interviews were conducted, and reports, observations and water
meter readings were collected over a 13-month period. The study served to highlight several areas of
concern, where wasteful and inefficient practices were observed. The results show that old and decaying
infrastructure, reactive maintenance, poor management, and a lack of monitoring of water use all
contributed to the high-water consumption recorded at the Upper and Lower Campuses. This is not only
environmentally unsustainable but also results in unnecessary economic costs. In contrast, the heightened
awareness and proactive behaviour of staff and students at the Hotel School Campus combined with the
implementation of water-saving strategies demonstrated that there are easily implementable mitigation
measures where water could be used more efficiently, and consumption reduced.
Qualitative surveys among students and staff indicated an awareness of the drought situation and the
need to conserve water. The survey respondents suggested approaches and activities such as
implementing water management strategies, educating, and devising techniques and technology to
reduce water consumption. To support these findings, changes in management approaches in 2021 such
as proactive maintenance and monitoring of consumption and municipal charges by the Facilities
Department and at the Hotel School resulted in positive effects, thus suggesting the same action can be
implemented across the whole university. Valuable lessons were learned from university initiatives
elsewhere,such as target setting, public displays on consumption levels and real-time feedback on targets
reached. These, and proactive drought mitigation strategies instigated in other countries and suggestions
from key stakeholders, can form recommendations for a WMS to be implemented at NUST.
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The findings of this study provide a basis from which to explore and practise the identified key
interventions and methods. This will help reduce water consumption, make financial savings, and promote
awareness of water issues leading to more environmentally favourable practices. Better water
management through the development of a WMS could lead to improved sustainability and help NUST to
move towards becoming a greener university for which the survey found good support.
Description
Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Natural Resources Management at the Namibia University of Science
and Technology
Keywords
Environmental Management Plan, Water Management Strategy, Sustainability, Water efficiency, Greening, Environmental impact, Namibia University of Science and Technology
Citation
Symonds, A. (2023). Towards a Green Campus: Assessment of Sustainable Water Use and Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology Campuses [Unpublished masters's thesis]. Namibia University of Science and Technology.