Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.24
Liaison Alicia Gowan
Submission Date June 18, 2024

STARS v2.2

Kwantlen Polytechnic University
OP-22: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Alicia Gowan
Sustainability Specialist
Campus and Community Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
Less comprehensive policies, plans or guidelines that incorporate green infrastructure

A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:

Although KPU does not have a comprehensive rainwater management strategy, the Kwantlen Student Association, in collaboration with the Facilities Department, provide rainwater barrels for the community garden users at KPU. Potable water is only used during dry spells in the summer months. KPU also has a pond or "water feature" beside the main courtyard at Surrey Campus which assists with rainwater run-off. In addition, Surrey Main building on the Surrey Campus has a water collection feature where overflow runoff from the roof flows. KPU Langley also has a pond area that aids with excess water due to storm water flooding in the adjacent parking lots. KPU's planning team intends to incorporate rainwater management whenever possible in new land-use projects. KPU's Horticulture program "Urban Ecosystems", maintains a 65-metre rain garden and a vertical living wall rain garden at the Langley Campus.


A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
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A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:

KPU has a set of guidelines highlighted within its Sustainability Framework about rainwater management including the following (linked below): 


SF.5.4.1 Ecosystem-based Landscapes



  • Ensure all future development limits impact on
    existing waterways, riparian areas, and habitats

  • At the time of building and open space design,
    explore strategies to minimize development
    footprints and create open spaces that can
    contribute to functional ecosystem landscapes

  • Develop comprehensive rainwater management
    plans that adopt a watershed lens and
    prioritizes green infrastructure systems and
    low-impact development practices such as
    bioswales, rain gardens, and constructed
    wetlands. Plans should reflect the unique
    ecological context of each campus and include
    approaches appropriate to each.

  • As Open Spaces are designed, collaboration
    with Indigenous Peoples on the application of
    Indigenous design principles is envisioned


Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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