Water
The 500-acre Bard campus is bounded by the Hudson River to the west and is part of the Hudson River Direct Drainage area, Sawkill Subwatershed.
The Sawkill Creek provides the College with its drinking water. Our waste water is returned to the Sawkill after it is treated at our sewer treatment plant. Bard seeks to continuously improve our conservation of water and waste water, as well as our storm water practices.
The Sawkill Creek at Bard College.
Storm Water and Waste Water
Storm water comes from rain or melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. Storm water pollution is one of the leading non–point source pollution causes of stream health degradation in New York State.MORE >>
Drinking Water and Water Conservation
Although more than 75 percent of the Earth's surface is made up of water, only 2.8 percent of the Earth's water is available for human consumption.Guidelines and Policies
The College specifies low-flow toilets and shower heads, as well as aerators during building renovation, operations, and maintenance.Actions and Materials
- Click here to see our STARS Water reporting.
- Bard is reducing deliveries of bottled water. Where feasible, bottled water coolers will be replaced by in-line filtration water dispensers. Click here to learn more.
- Do you know how much water it takes to produce the average American diet? Approximately 2,000 gal. per person per day. Producing 1 lb. of beef requires 1,799 gal. of water. Chicken requires 468 gal. (Read more in National Geographic.)
- Equipment specifications for water-saving products in use at Bard are coming soon.
