| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.79 |
| Liaison | Mary Whitney |
| Submission Date | Sept. 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Chatham University
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Mary
Whitney University Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Water and waste infrastructure are important educational components of the Eden Hall Campus. While integrating biophilic water management systems into the built environment adds interest and beauty, this strategy also exposes students, faculty, and visitors to the impacts that our behavior and technology have on the environment.
As Chatham increases the number of students that live on the Eden Hall campus, and in order to stay sustainable, we needed to implement innovative water treatment processes that would not stress Richland Township's already struggling water systems. We designed an on-lot sanitary system that makes use of a constructed wetland and grey water system for all of our campus buildings. With primary treatment tanks at each building, waste runs through biological trickling filters into a constructed wetland that is also a pollinator-friendly, native plant garden. It then goes to a recirculating sand filter and then on to mechanical filtration and ultra violet disinfection station. From there, water is diverted to a grey water system for non potable reuse or to irrigation tanks which fed drip fields into the forested areas of the campus. The system's capacity is approximately 6,000 gallons per day.
A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
The system became operational starting in August 2015, and data is currently being collected and will be available shortly.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | No |
| Research | No |
| Campus Engagement | No |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Air & Climate | No |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services | No |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | No |
| Purchasing | No |
| Transportation | No |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.