| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 92.73 |
| Liaison | Emmanuelle Jodoin |
| Submission Date | Oct. 24, 2022 |
Université de Sherbrooke
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Chantal
Couture Director General Building 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:
In order to promote better rainwater management on its campuses, the Université de Sherbrooke has implemented several measures as part of the stormwater management plan included in its 2018-2022 sustainable development plan. Here are some examples of these measures:
• The grassed areas of the main campus are not watered, except for the sports fields during hot weather, thus reducing the amount of potable water used by favouring the use of rainwater.
• The Coeur Campus [EN: Heart Campus], created in 2009, collects rainwater to reduce the water flow and to purify it.
• The green roof of the Longueuil Campus reduces the impermeable surface of the campus.
• Over the years, hundreds of parking spaces have been transformed into permeable green spaces.
• For several years, new buildings are equipped with rainwater collection basins that reduce the discharge of rainwater during heavy rainfall.
In addition, other actions have been taken to improve rainwater management:
• Straw mulch and landscape fabric are used to retain run-off water during large excavations. Ditches are equipped with membranes to retain fine particles. Peat and hydroseeding are used to quickly revegetate steep slopes.
• A cleaning effort keeps the retention structures free of obstructions to avoid overflows during flash floods. These overflows cause further erosion and leaching of sediments.
• The University participates in the Ville de Sherbrooke's efforts to find crossings between sanitary and storm sewers to avoid overflows at the treatment plants.
• Temporary flow meters were installed to ensure that no stormwater crossings were discharged into the wastewater. The results met the requirements of the Ville de Sherbrooke. Similarly, fecal coliform sampling is conducted by the city to validate if sanitary fluids are entering the stormwater pipes.
• Stormwater retention structures were installed using various methods to ensure proper integration into the landscape. Surface ponds and underground reservoirs were used for the development of buildings and parking areas.
The Université de Sherbrooke has implemented a rainwater management program at Parc Innovation. The creation of a retention basin limits the negative impacts of heavy rainfall on the natural environment since there is an increase in run-off due to the development and construction of roads and buildings.
The University has also improved its winter practices to reduce the use of de-icing salt — as the use of salt is an environmentally harmful practice that can increase the salinity of freshwater and harvested rainwater.
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 Université de Sherbrooke complies with the Ville de Sherbrooke's "Politique d'aménagement des bassins de rétention des eaux pluviales" [EN: Policy for the development of rainwater retention basins] for its rainwater management. The University has adopted actions that are consistent with this policy and that aim to facilitate the integration of the retention basins as public spaces in the area where they are located, notably by ensuring that various parameters are respected, such as their planning, configuration, and the vegetation of the environment. In short, in accordance with this policy, the University has implemented various projects to improve rainwater management through different infrastructure developed on the campuses.
In addition, the University has adopted a rainwater management plan as part of its 2018-2022 sustainable development plan, which will be completed on its three campuses in the fall of 2022. Through its sustainable development plan and the resulting green space development strategy, the Université de Sherbrooke has taken action to improve surface water quality through integrated water management. Within the framework of this strategy, the following three objectives have been developed:
• Ensure the quality of rainwater at its outflow of the campuses
• Minimize impervious surfaces on university properties
• Improve rainwater retention
In line with its objectives, the University ensures proper rainwater management in new projects by using the best rainwater management practices and by ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. For example, these practices avoid disturbing slopes of more than 15% of inclination and quickly revegetate any slopes where the soil is exposed. In addition, permeable materials for new landscaping is used where possible, as well as the integration of good rainwater retention practices in the maintenance of the landscaping. Finally, a rainwater harvesting project for the gardens will be developed in the near future.
Sources:
• Green Development Strategy - Stormwater Management (page 11):
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/fileadmin/sites/developpement-durable/documents/Strate__gie_d_ame__nagement_des_espaces_verts.pdf
• https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/campus/eau/
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.