| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.61 |
| Liaison | Tina Woolston |
| Submission Date | Nov. 2, 2022 |
Tufts University
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Greg
Mellett Ground Supervisor Facilities Services |
Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
Sophia Gordon Hall has a stormwater management system that exceeds the requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Management Policy and includes a reduction in peak stormwater runoff. The total site area of Sophia Gordon Hall is 50,000 square feet. 58% of the site (approximately 21,000 square feet) is pervious (i.e. water can penetrate directly into the soil). A number of catch basins, a Stormtech infiltration system, and an underground detention Advanced Drainage System (ADS) reduce the rate of runoff into the city's storm sewer by maintaining or holding the water and releasing it slowly. Drought-tolerant plants are used in landscaping. Specific examples can be found at 574 Boston Ave, 527 Boston Ave, SEC Building, Cummings building. Future plans for plantings at Robinson Hall. 50% of the buildings on the Medford/Somerville campus have down spouts that drain into dry wells.
View features of 574 Boston Ave in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8lpeKsQ50&list=PLM4_p-4NNXXpqsV6C7OiNIbVSWmV7rs4L&index=1&t=1s
Two irrigation wells installed at Alumni Field were activated in spring 2012. Tufts’ first rain garden has been installed on the Medford/Somerville campus near Hodgdon and Lewis Halls. The garden features permeable stone that will filter rain from the surrounding area to reduce downstream flooding and improve water quality. Condensate recapture and reuse was implemented in pilot tests in Medford and Boston campuses in 2012 as well.
Additional stormwater retention systems have been integrated into recent construction projects, including a new catch basin constructed in 2017. There is also currently a small green roof research project on Tisch Library that reduces stormwater runoff. The Central Energy Plant was built in 2017 and is at the bottom of the hill, so includes swales.
Tufts built a structure on the Grafton campus's equine arena and small animal hospital expansion. The town conservation commission required a stormwater handling system on the opposite side of Route 30. This is compliant with LID requirements.
Students from Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy have completed preliminary low-impact designs for use by Facilities Services to address stormwater retention and quality on the Medford/Somerville campus. Weather-informed irrigation technologies are being investigated, Tufts is working with irrigation contractor to install Hunter Hydrawise irrigation have better control of irrigation systems and water consumption. Efforts to identify appropriate areas for additional groundwater for irrigation continue with good prospects in the area of Ellis Oval.
Tufts follows all Massachusetts' stormwater policies and regulations. See https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-stormwater-handbook-and-stormwater-standards for details.
A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
The use of swales, dry wells, proper aeration, rain gardens, permeable asphalt, and detention ponds are incorporated into the plan for tufts campuses. Tufts will continue investigation and identification of areas on campus that would benefit from rain gardens and swales and will implement where appropriate.
Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.