Water on campus

Potable Water consumption per campus population ( kL / EFTSL + FTE )

Total treated water (mains supply) consumption across all campuses from 2020-2022 and 2023.

Providers

Griffith University uses local council wastewater treatment processes and facilities to treat wastewater across all campuses.

The Queensland Department of Natural Resources advises local governments on the management and maintenance of sewerage systems and treatment plants, and local councils are licensed under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to discharge wastewater that has been treated and meets an acceptable environmental standard.

Providers for wastewater treatment for Griffith University include:

• Urban Utilities for the Nathan, Mt Gravatt and Southbank campuses,
• Logan City Council for the Logan campus and
• Gold Coast City Council for the Gold Coast campus.

Griffith measures the volume of water that is reused as a result of ‘wastewater treatment’. In 2023, ∼ 194,821.6 m3 of wastewater (including both grey and black water) was treated by Urban Utilities, Logan City Council and Gold Coast City Council. Queensland Urban Utilities also utilises advanced reservoir osmosis and microfiltration of treated wastewater to return this water to the grid.

Since the Millennium drought (1997–2009) Griffith University has partnered with local councils and state governments to ensure water security and improve water management. These partnerships included Griffith's involvement in the Urban Water Security Research Alliance, the largest urban water research program in Australia at the time. Research from this partnership has provided a foundation for the reform of South East Queensland water management, including new water grid infrastructure and a desalination plant.

Standards

Upgrades to wastewater treatment operations in South East Queensland during and since the Millennium drought means South East Queensland now delivers some of the highest-quality drinking water in the world. Wastewater is cleaned and treated at water treatment plants to the stringent standards set by the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines and returned to the water grid.

This world-leading wastewater treatment, combined with the widespread adoption of water-sensitive urban design measures (i.e. rainwater tanks, permeable pavements and stormwater harvesting) has meant Griffith University has contributed to, and uses, wastewater treatment networks that provide water security to South East Queensland, while minimising environmental impacts.

Preventing water system pollution

To prevent physical, biological and chemical alterations to the unique aquatic ecosystems on and around our campuses, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university, Griffith has established processes to minimise and prevent water system pollution by promoting water quality through:

Comprehensive contaminant management and response processes. Griffith University’s Design Guidelines set a suite of regulatory control measures for internal operations and external contractors in line with the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 and the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to prevent pollution from contaminated water release.
For large projects, contractors must prepare a Construction Safety and Environment Management Plan that describe how environmental risks will be managed, what control measures will be used and how their effectiveness will be monitored and reviewed. Compliance of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) plans, including incident monitoring and notification processes, is managed by contractors and supporting safety teams in collaboration with Griffith’s Major Projects and Capital Works and Minor Projects teams. This includes on-site EHS officers and regular inspections by a site superintendent. Griffith University also requires that contractors undertaking high risk work, as part of minor works construction, maintenance or services, provide an appropriate safety plan or Work Method Statement, describing how the risks will be controlled before starting work.
Additional contaminated water management controls include:

• water from air-conditioners to sewer/trade waste and not stormwater
• floor drains not provided under laboratory safety showers to prevent unwanted contaminants leaving the lab space.

Initiatives to prevent plastic contamination. Our Design Guidelines contain requirements for stormwater management approaches that aim to prevent or significantly minimise pollution and erosion. The requirements include:

• Use biologically based stormwater management features such as swales, sediment control ponds, pools and wetlands along drainage courses, and infiltration basins to retain and treat stormwater onsite.
• Minimise landscapes and use permeable paving and surface materials to maximise site water absorption.
• Ensure runoff is directed away from buildings.
• Install stormwater filters and debris separators.
• Use of silt control barriers to prevent contamination of stormwater drains and streams.

The development of water quality standards and guidelines for water discharges, to uphold water quality and protect ecosystems, wildlife and human health and welfare. We are currently working with students and Griffith experts to develop informed and appropriate procedures for the ecological monitoring of sensitive water bodies at Gold Coast, Logan and Nathan campuses. Procedures include information on monitoring locations, parameters (e.g. biological, physico-chemical), timing, and people responsible. This work is expected to be completed in late 2024 and monitoring initiated from 2025.

The development of erosion and sediment control processes. We are currently working with students and Griffith experts to develop informed and appropriate procedures for proactive erosion monitoring and management, along with incident notification processes. This work will ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standards and reduce pollution (sediment, contaminants, rubbish, micro-plastics) into waterways on campuses and into downstream water bodies.

Management of all potential hazardous materials, chemicals and pollutants on campus in accordance with Australian standards. The University has a legal obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to control hazards and risks associated with hazardous chemicals within the workplace. In addition, the University must comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 regarding the disposal of regulated waste. The University has a Procedure for Chemical Waste Disposal, Guidelines for the Management of Clinical and Related Waste, Standards for Managing Chemicals, and a Policy for Handling, Using and Disposing of Chemicals. This suite of documents ensures the management of all potential hazardous materials, chemicals and pollutants on campus in accordance with Australian standards to prevent polluted water entering the water system, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university.

Chemical Waste Disposal ProcedureGuidelines for the Management of Clinical and Related WasteStandards for Managing ChemicalsHandling, Using and Disposing of Chemicals Policy Environmental Sustainability Policy

Our Design Guidelines set requirements to prevent pollution from contaminated water release.

Griffith Design Guidelines

Preventing marine pollution

Griffith University seeks to ensure a sustainable marine environment through improving marine health and preventing marine pollution of all kinds.

Microplastics entering the fresh and marine aquatic environment are a major environmental and social challenge. Alongside leading research on microplastics within the marine environment, our plastic reduction initiatives include:

• removal of plastic cutlery, utensils and straws from campus service providers and catering
• a Sustainable Event Guide to support the reduction of single-use plastic at Griffith events and graduation ceremonies
• KeepCup and bring-your-own-water-bottle campaigns to encourage reuse and limit the sale of single-use plastic drink containers
• water fountains and refill stations to encourage the use of reusable containers and ensure access to clean drinking water for all
• development of waste management plans to avoid and limit plastic waste as Griffith strives to become a zero-plastic university.

Construction and maintenance works associated with campus development has the potential to cause erosion, releasing sediment into the natural environment. Griffith University is developing measures to monitor and control sediment erosion across our campuses. These measures are informed by our Precision Erosion and Sediment Management Research Group, which develops timely, cost-effective strategies to precisely define and manage erosion and sediment sources in our waterways and catchments.

Rainwater and water reuse options across Griffith campuses

As per our Environmental Sustainability Policy, Griffith has committed to "Protect and enhance the catchments and marine environments in which the university operates, prevent polluted water entering the water system (including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university), maximise water reuse, provide free drinking water, and reduce environmental impacts through use of a best practice process to treat wastewater".

Environmental Sustainability Policy

The university currently measures reuse of water through its rainwater tanks located across its campuses. Water from rainwater tanks on campus is reused for flushing toilets and immediate building green space irrigation.

In 2023, water reuse through rainwater tanks was estimated to be 1.5 millon litres.

This figure is based on the total rainwater tank capacity and assumes that each tank is completely used once during the year with some being used more and some less. For tanks that are solely used for garden irrigation, the use will depend on seasonal variation and weather.

At Griffith, we ensure our buildings are safe, efficient and sustainable following the requirements, policies, regulations and technical guidance set out in our design guidelines.

To reduce potable water consumption across our campuses, all new buildings comply with sustainable standards, including the application of water-conscious building standards outlined in the Griffith Design Guidelines. These guidelines include the provision of water reuse requirements in accordance with local building and wastewater codes.

Griffith Design Guidelines

Standards include the consideration of water use minimisation measures (e.g. installing waterless urinals and using flow restriction fixtures and reduced water pressure on taps), and of rainwater capture and reuse systems, to maximise water reuse across the University.

By incorporating water reuse systems into new construction projects, the University demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship, reduces operational costs, and sets a precedent for sustainable development within the community. Griffith Engineering Services and Facilities Management teams conduct periodical reviews of existing rainwater collection and use infrastructure to provide information on operational status, maintenance requirements and use potential.

Find out more about our campus development requirements

Griffith University adopts a native vegetation approach to campuses, including:

1. a focus on retention and enhancement of remnant vegetation
2. campus design and green space management using native vegetation and, if irrigation is required, collecting rainwater for use where possible
3. developing nature-based solutions to reduce stormwater velocity and prevent contamination release and erosion, including leveraging vegetated and naturalised flow paths wherever possible
4. managing risks posed by bushfires and extreme events, while protecting ecosystem functionality and advantages provided by natural assets
5. developing action plans to improve riparian health through weed management and riparian restoration, and ensuring campus development maintains appropriate ecological buffers from any riparian zone.

The university selects Australian native plants for its campuses to minimise water usage, leveraging the drought-tolerant properties of these species to create a sustainable and resilient landscape. You can view and download the lists of native plant species found at our campuses on the Griffith Biodiversity webpage.

The Griffith University Biodiversity Conservation Plan 2022–2025 and its associated Landscape Management Plans include local and native plant palettes designed to minimise and, where possible, eliminate irrigation. This approach ensures we deliver water-conscious planting and plant landscapes that reduce water consumption across our campuses.

Biodiversity Conservation Plan 2022–2025

Gold Coast Campus Master Plan and Planting Strategy

Nathan Campus Planting Strategy

Weed Management Plan

As per our design guidelines, preference shall be given to the use of drought tolerant plants which do not require regular watering.

Griffith Design Guidelines