Stanford wants you to know it’s not trying to make a splash. There’s no party underway. It’s only after a fully considered conservation assessment that the campus fountains have been turned back on.
Since the fountains were turned off in 2014 as part of voluntary drought management, the university has repaired leaky valves and pipes, and surveyed the fountains to ensure that water meters are installed and working. The fountains weren’t subject to California’s emergency regulations because they use recirculated water, but Stanford shut them down while it evaluated all university consumption and implemented conservation measures.
Stanford’s having achieved significant reductions, in part because of the new campus energy system, means the fountains can be restored without negative impact. “We consider these water features important to the character of the campus,” said Jack Cleary, associate vice president in land, buildings and real estate.
