University of Alberta
OP-23: Stormwater Management

NEW DEVELOPMENT: The Long Range Development Plan (LRDP, 2002) for the University of Alberta encompasses North Campus, South Campus, Michener Park and Campus Saint-Jean. The LRDP identifies where on-site stormwater management will be necessary and where existing facilities can be utilized; it states that stormwater management facilities will be developed as warranted and will be staged incrementally to minimize servicing costs. Additionally, wherever possible, the stormwater management system will be connected to the open space system. Accompanying the LRDP are sector plans that further detail specific strategies and methods that will be used to address stormwater management, such as: - aquatic vegetation and designed ecosystems in naturalized stormwater management facilities - rainwater collection systems - xeriscaping - grey water systems, and - rooftop gardens/vegetated roofs There is a separate LRDP for Augustana Campus (Augustana LRDP, 2005), and in 2008 Focus Corporation developed a Stormwater Management Plan for Augustana Campus to accompany the Augustana LRDP. The Augustana Campus Stormwater Management Plan provides a framework for development to the year 2015. The proposed stormwater management concept includes a wet Storm Water Management Facility (SWMF) located at the downstream end of the ravine, a dry pond that will service the campus catchment draining to 46th Avenue, and two dry ponds for the residence parking lot expansion draining to the CN Railway ditch. A drainage swale proposed for the west side of the campus will intercept and direct runoff to the ravine SWMF. The plan also covers erosion issues. CURRENT PRACTICES: Initiatives already in place include the following, with more detail in the sections below: - a vegetated roof - retention ponds - stone swales - vegetated swales - underground cisterns - rain barrels in our Community Gardens

The newly opened Edmonton Clinic Health Academy features a vegetated roof.

There are two locations on North Campus that have porous paving installed – the walkway to the East Pool, and surrounding some elm trees near the Education building. However, it should be noted that due to our northern climate, there are issues around freezing and thawing that prevent this technology from being completely successful, so its employment is limited.

Augustana has three retention ponds on campus: one pond is situated north of parking lot P3, next to the Athletic field; one is situated just south of the parking lot for the Ravine Dorm complex; the third is just east of that same parking lot. Additionally, there is a dry pond at South Campus. A second dry pond is planned for installation at the Balmoral Centre at South Campus in summer 2012.

On the north side of the Auxiliary Building at Augustana Campus, a stone swale collects storm water and directs it into the natural ravine/creek area that runs through the campus.

All new landscaping completed in summer 2011 at Augustana Campus has incorporated grass swales directing stormwater into an underground cistern.

Augustana Campus installed a 1500 gallon underground cistern that collects water from the grass swales, which is then used to water flower beds, bushes and trees on campus. There are also two 250 gallon tanks that collect the runoff from the Facilities building, with the water then being used for irrigation purposes. On North Campus, Triffo Hall collects rainwater in a below-grade storage tank system and uses it for toilet flushing to reduce potable water use. On North Campus and Campus Saint-Jean, the Campus Community Gardens use rainwater collected in rain barrels for the majority of their irrigation needs. An additional underground rainwater retention tank is planned for installation at the Balmoral Centre at South Campus in summer 2012; water collected in this underground tank will be used for irrigation of grounds at the Balmoral Centre.

Responsible Party Information: NORTH CAMPUS Name: Hugh Warren Department: Operations & Maintenance Position: Executive Director Name: Pat Jansen Department: Planning & Project Delivery Position: Executive Director AUGUSTANA CAMPUS Name: Chris Blades Department: Facilities & Operations Position: Facilities Manager