Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.15
Liaison Andrew Porter
Submission Date March 11, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Cincinnati
OP-23: Stormwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Claire Sweigart
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from new development projects? :
Yes

Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from ongoing campus operations? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution's stormwater management initiatives:

The University has recently drafted both a conceptual opportunities and storm / recycled water master plan, which includes both green and gray strategies that convey and divert storm water from the combined sewer overflow of our water shed district. The plan also includes a project developed in partnership with the Metropolitan Sewer District that has the potential to divert nearly 50 MG of storm water.


The website URL where information about the institution's stormwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
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Does the institution have a living or vegetated roof?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's living or vegetated roof:

UC has two extensively designed green roofs: one on the College of Design, Architecture , Art and Planning, and the other on the College of Nursing Both employ a principally soil-less medium over a drainage profile using xeriphytic plants (almost exclusively sedum) as our landscape composition. There is also one intensively designed green roof: Zimmer Roof Garden.


Does the institution have porous paving?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's porous paving:

Selected areas of porous pavement are present on campus, and plans call for the installation of porous pavers in other areas of campus as well.


Does the institution have retention ponds?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's retention ponds:

Several underground retention tanks are used for the collection of roof water for irrigation purposes.


Does the institution have stone swales?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's stone swales:

A series of granite and concrete pavers create a runnel system that conveys storm and surface run-off from the University's largest green space into the storm sewer The storm water master plan calls for a project that will send this water through a series of large particle and ultra filtration systems to remove undesirable particulate, and then the water would be pumped to a retention system and equilization chamber for irrigation use.


Does the institution have vegetated swales?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's vegetated swales:

UC has countless vegetated swales throughout the cultivated landscape. Many of the landforms that have been constructed to direct the water to catch basins and ultimately to detention tanks for slow release back into the sewer system Theintention is to capture this run-off and recycle it via the project described above. Much of the surface water in these swales also percolates into the ground water before being discharged into the sewer.


Does the institution employ any other technologies or strategies for stormwater management?:
Yes

A brief description of other technologies or strategies for stormwater management employed:

UC is currently exploring a new technology of capturing the condensate from our condenser units and recirculating the water through a series of ultra filtration and reverse osmosis to make the water usable as irrigation or recycled for cooling.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.