6.3.4 Water-conscious building standards

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) applies building standards to minimise water use. These building standards, in place by 2025, set requirements and technical guidance for new construction and renovation: all newly constructed or renovated buildings are required to adopt water-efficient sanitary fixtures and to incorporate water conservation into their design. Restroom fixtures are being replaced with automatic sensor faucets, which release water only when a user is detected and stop automatically, and flow rates are regulated to meet water-saving sanitary standards.

Policy Requirements for Water-efficient Buildings

These practices are supported by the University's Green University Policy B.E. 2569 (2026), which states that renovation and construction projects should use environmentally friendly materials and follow green procurement practices (Clause 2.1.3), and which promotes greater efficiency in water consumption, including the provision of water-saving devices (Clause 2.5.1).

Source: https://greenuniversity.swu.ac.th/policies

Water-efficient Fixtures at Ongkharak Campus

Water-efficient fixtures are being installed systematically. At Ongkharak Campus, all 547 toilets in academic, administrative and residential buildings have low-flow or dual-flush systems (100%), and 10 of the 20 faucets in high-traffic communal restrooms are sensor-activated (50%) (SWU Sustainable University Performance Report, Academic Year 2025, UI GreenMetric evidence WR.4, p. 160). The image below shows sensor restroom faucets and low-flow/dual-flush toilets at Ongkharak Campus, with the 2025 inventory of water-efficient fixtures.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVGrDvbj9BgNzyuM_Hj4kS-o5aaPH4lJ/view

Sensor Faucets and Water-saving Sanitary Ware in Renovated Restrooms

The restrooms of the Central Library and the public restroom beneath the University's car park are equipped with automatic sensor faucets and water-saving sanitary ware. The Central Library has also adopted water conservation measures, including regular inspection and prompt repair of damaged water fixtures, the use of water-saving sanitary ware and scheduled plant watering. The photographs below show automatic sensor faucets and water-saving sanitary ware in renovated restrooms of the Central Library and academic buildings, followed by the Central Library's water-saving measures.

Source: https://lib.swu.ac.th/news-events/recommended-green/มาตรการประหยัดน้ำ/

Restroom Renovation Specifying Sensor-activated Fixtures, 2025

In 2025, the Central Library at Prasarnmit Campus prepared the renovation of the ground-floor restrooms in its building, with a budget of THB 1,350,000. The bill of quantities and reference price, prepared on 4 April 2025 by a committee appointed under Central Library Order No. 22/2568 of 31 March 2025, specifies water-efficient fixtures: six electric sensor-activated basin faucets and five sensor-activated urinals across the women's, men's and accessible restrooms, together with new PPR water supply pipes and PVC drainage pipes that reduce the risk of leaks. Because sensor fixtures release water only when a user is present and stop automatically, they avoid water left running and reduce the volume of water used for washing and flushing. The renovation also includes a fully equipped accessible restroom. The image below shows pages 9–10 of the bill of quantities (Form Por.Ror.4).