Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.05
Liaison Yumiko Jakobcic
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Grand Valley State University
OP-27: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Yumiko Jakobcic
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability Practices
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution use Low Impact Development (LID) practices as a matter of policy or standard practice to reduce rainwater/stormwater runoff volume and improve outgoing water quality for new construction, major renovation, and other projects?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:

Focused on restoring the campus storm water runoff to pre-development conditions. Our intent is to reduce stormwater runoff to the level experienced in 1960 just before the University was established. These efforts include porous pavement parking lots, rain gardens, green roofs, wetland creation and storm water reuse in campus irrigation.


Has the institution adopted a rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, or strategies that mitigate the rainwater runoff impacts of ongoing campus operations through the use of green infrastructure? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:

These efforts include porous pavement parking lots, rain gardens, green roofs, wetland creation and storm water reuse in campus irrigation.


A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:

Excess rainwater is stored in retention ponds and used for irrigation when appropriate.


Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
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A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:

Constructed wetlands capture stormwater and provide natural filtering services as the water infiltrates into the ground.


A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:

Green roofs promote infiltration of storm water and reduce peak runoff from storm events. The sedum plants absorb and uptae storm water runoff and reduce pollutant loadings. These roofs are located on the Kennedy Engineering Building, the Honors College Building, portions of the South Living Center, the Connection Building, the MAK 2008 Addition, the AWRI Boat Storage Facility, and portions of the Kelly Sports Facility. Green roofs are being designed for a new science lab building.


A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:

We have both sidewalks and 2 parking lots that used these materials. Porous pavement promotes infiltration of storm water and reduces peak runoff from storm events. Storm water is captured through the pavement and a system of underdrains and underground cisterns.


A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:

Downspouts are not connected to sanitary system.  Most go to a stormwater system


A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:

Rain gardens are in use at the Laker Turf Building.


A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:

Storm water detention-reuse ponds capture storm water from a large portion of campus. The water is captured, stored and reused in the campus irrigation system or allowed to flow through a more natural pace to the Grand River. In addition, we recently completed a stormwater management complex that is 55 acres in size and designed to manage a significant area of existing pavement and buildings.


A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):

The university has created numerous rain gardens to promote infiltration and reduce pollutant loadings. In addition, we have these devices in manicured lawn areas as an initial collection feature. Design solutions fo rnew buildings seek to incorporate existing older stormwater management solutions into the new site deisgns; the intent is to update the older solutions to current best management practices. These newer design solutions invariably seek to detain the stormwater flows for a greater period of time to allow sediment to drop out of the stormwater flow.


A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:

Wetland system construction captures, stroes and treats stormw water through a series of sediment fore-bays and stormwater management cells. Our newer recreation and sports fields are constructed with stormwater acollection and storage facilities located below the playing surface. Where feasible, we re-direct historic flows from parking areas to newer or reconstructed detention areas to allow greater non-source pollutant removal.


The website URL where information about the institution’s rainwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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