Brigham Young University
OP-22: Rainwater Management

In Utah, where 95 percent of water comes from snowpack, every drop matters. As snow melts or rain falls in the mountains above BYU, it flows via the Provo River to Utah Lake, sustaining critical fish and wildlife habitat. From there it flows via the Jordan River to the Great Salt Lake, a keystone ecosystem. Taking care to minimize water diversions, especially during drought conditions, BYU follows several practices:

• The campus water master monitors stream flows and reduces outflows––BYU’s allotted secondary water––accordingly, from as little as 20 percent in spring to as much as 100 percent in late summer.


• Direct precipitation on campus recharges groundwater and returns to Utah Lake via municipal stormwater systems. It also reduces irrigation needs on campus, where sprinkler systems are cloud-based and weather-attuned.


• Hillsides are covered with mulch for a moderate degree of bioretention and erosion protection. Lawn fertilizers are used sparingly, preventing nutrient runoff.


• Many campus buildings have roof materials, such as gravel, that attenuate peak runoff.


• Two underground storage facilities detain runoff before discharging it at a lower rate into Provo City’s storm drain system.


• Campus sidewalks, roads, and buildings are buffered by grass, flowerbeds, and other pervious materials. This reduces the direct connectivity that would otherwise increase peak flows across impervious surfaces. It also reduces the transport of contaminants into natural waterways.


• Several places on campus have pavers and pea gravel instead of concrete, allowing for rainwater infiltration.

Although BYU does not have a written rainwater management policy, BYU's rainwater management efforts comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Utah Department of Natural Resources (Division of Water Resources and Division of Water Rights), Utah Department of Environmental Quality (Division of Water Quality), and Provo City stormwater regulatory requirements to maintain storm water systems, secure permits, follow plans, and minimize impact to the ecosystem. Likewise, new construction on BYU's campus meets Provo City's requirements for rainwater management. 

Provo's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) inspectors perform inspections of construction sites monthly, unless site-specific details require more frequent inspections. Provo City uses the website compliancego.com to track and share inspections reports and for contractors to post their SWPPP and inspection reports. (See also  Storm Drain Master Plan, Erosion Control and Water Quality Manual,  Storm Drainage System Design and Manual, and Storm Water Management Plan.)

Human health and environmental health are priorities for the campus community.