Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 72.96
Liaison Audrey McSain
Submission Date Feb. 16, 2022

STARS v2.2

Lehigh University
OP-22: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Dan O'Brien
Associate Director
Facilities
"---" 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:
By law, all land development is required to comply with Clean Water Act NPDES permits, which include sediment and erosion control practices and storm water management.

Several new buildings in the design and construction phase will incorporate LIDs like green roofs. The most recently-completed building has green roofs and storm water collection with a slow-release scheme.

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:
Incremental improvements are being made to existing storm water collection and conveyance systems, increased planting beds and improved turf management including smart irrigation to limit exposed surfaces and prevent erosion. Ground water is used to irrigate most athletic playing fields rather than potable water.

A stormwater management plan is currently being developed. It is anticipated that it will be finalized in 2022.

Lehigh and the surrounding City of Bethlehem have separate storm sewers and sanitary sewers. Five Lehigh buildings have rain water storage systems that collect and slowly release rain water to the storm sewer system. Four buildings have green roofs. One new building under construction will include a rain water reuse system for flushing toilets, in addition to a green roof.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Lehigh's rainwater management was not impacted by COVID-19, therefore the data above is representative of a normal year.

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.