Testing water levels

San Bernardino Valley College made history recently, becoming the first educational institution to receive Alliance for Water Stewardship certification.

“This prestigious accolade underscores San Bernardino Valley College’s commitment to sustainable practices,” SBVC President Dr. Gilbert J. Contreras said. “We prioritize sustainability at our college. Our achievements in green building construction, energy reduction, and minimizing our water footprint result in substantial benefits for our community and the environment.”

SBVC leads the way in San Bernardino County, not just with its green practices but also by offering related educational programs, like Water Technology. Water scarcity and insecurity are global issues, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship is made up of businesses, NGOs, and members of the public sector who adopt and promote a universal framework for the sustainable use of water.

In order to receive Alliance for Water Stewardship certification, a site must complete a rigorous series of steps, and SBVC was guided through this process by GWF, a Swiss water metering and measuring company.

This strategic partnership was forged after Farrah Farzaneh, San Bernardino Community College District Executive Director of Facilities Planning, Sustainability and Construction, met GWF representatives at the World Economic Forum and spoke about SBVC's focus on water sustainability. Impressed, GWF developed a pilot program to help SBVC receive Alliance for Water Stewardship certification.

SBVC went through an audit and met 98 conditions in order to earn Alliance for Water Stewardship certification. Moving forward, SBVC and GWF are set on enhancing the college’s water management strategies in order to cut consumption and make the water that is used go further.

“Pairing water stewardship governance with high-quality sensor technology enables precise water usage insights, enabling targeted conservation strategies,” GWF CEO Florian Strasser said. “GWF and SBVC’s strategic collaboration exemplifies how partnerships can drive positive sustainable change that benefits both the college and the wider community.”