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U.Va.
begins water conservation efforts
U.Va.
begins water conservation efforts The University plans to work closely
with the city and county in their efforts to conserve water as the
area faces drought conditions. Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice
president and chief financial officer, announced on Aug. 11 a number
of voluntary measures that the University will take, in support
of Charlottesville and Albemarle County efforts to save water voluntarily.
Key personnel will be asked to monitor daily consumption, communicate
water-saving methods to all University employees, and prepare to
implement more stringent guidelines if conditions worsen. Among
the steps already in place:
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Miser shower heads, low-flow toilets, and other water-conserving
devices have been installed;
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Irrigation throughout the University -- including all athletic
fields and on central and North Grounds -- has been reduced significantly
or suspended entirely;
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Vehicle washing has been reduced to an as-needed basis;
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Contigency plans are being implemented in the housing division
in preparation for the beginning of the school year; and
- University
managers who influence and control water usage have been encouraged
to begin immediate cutbacks. The University uses approximately
60 million gallons of water a month, much of it for the hospital,
clinics and medical and other research.
August
is a low consumption month due to vacation schedules, but the University
must prepare for the peak times ahead when students return, Sandridge
said.
New
pre-tax benefit
Employees
now automatically have the monthly cost of their parking permits
deducted on a pre-tax basis, due to a change in federal tax law.
The program is similar to the pre-tax deduction for health care
premiums in that taxable pay is reduced and participants benefit
by an increase in take-home or net pay. The change will appear in
mid-September paychecks for employees paid semi-monthly and in October
paychecks for employees paid monthly.
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