Thompson Rivers University
OP-23: Rainwater Management

Assessments of the construction of all new buildings as well as major renovations of existing buildings will factor in the best practices for green infrastructure, Low Impact Development (LID), and storm water runoff (see definitions below). Definitions: Green Infrastructure: Consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the term “green infrastructure” refers to: …systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspirate (the return of water to the atmosphere either through evaporation or by plants), or reuse storm water or runoff on the site where it is generated. Examples include rainwater harvesting, downspout disconnection, rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, green streets and alleys, green roofs, and urban tree canopy. Low Impact Development (LID): Consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Low Impact Development (LID) is defined as: …an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature to manage storm water as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat storm water as a resource rather than a waste product. There are many practices that have been used to adhere to these principles such as bioretention facilities, rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, rain barrels, and permeable pavements. By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed. Applied on a broad scale, LID can maintain or restore a watershed's hydrologic and ecological functions. LID has been characterized as a sustainable storm water practice by the Water Environment Research Foundation, and others. LID can be applied to new development, redevelopment, or as retrofits to existing development. LID has been adapted to a range of land uses from high density ultra-urban settings to low density development. Storm water Run-Off: storm water runoff refers to water from precipitation that flows over land or impervious surfaces into bodies of water or sewer systems.

TRU Rainwater Management Guideline: All new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings will implement a rainwater management system unless site selection or unforeseen factors make a rainwater management system impossible or impractical. Assessments will factor in the best practices for Green infrastructure, Low Impact Development (LID), and storm water run-off. The intent of TRU’s rainwater management systems is to reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region. The assessments will also factor in other ecological, social and economic considerations within the entire TRU campus and community.