| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.32 |
| Liaison | Andy Mitchell |
| Submission Date | July 16, 2021 |
University of Illinois Chicago
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Cynthia
Klein-Banai Associate Chancellor for Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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:
UIC incorporates green infrastructure in new construction to achieve LEED Gold certification as well as larger landscaping projects that are required to achieve SITES silver certification. The campus was in a demonstrate and analyze phase with regard to green infrastructure (GI) from 2010-2017 with a number of pilot projects that resulted in 5 acres of GI reducing runoff by 4.5 million gallons/year. It includes permeable pavers and concrete, rain gardens, green roof, and a cistern. Much of this work has been complemented by faculty research on the performance of the GI. We have moved into Phase 2: Expand and Standardize GI and analyze its effectiveness through a UIC-professor designed model, known as the Landscape Green Infrastructure Design model. It is integrated into building standards.
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 purpose of the plan is to develop and demonstrate an incremental, scalable, and adaptive approach to implementing green infrastructure (GI) in a highly urbanized context. Using an urban campus as the location for this model also provides access to research and teaching opportunities. The plan integrates modeling outputs from a stormwater calculator with GI techniques, stakeholder interviews, expert advice, analysis of pilot projects, and a collaborative planning process.
The Urban Transformations 2.0: Green Stormwater Infrastructure Implementation Plan includes a 3-phased implementation plan. Phase 1: Demonstrate and Analyze, Phase 2: Expand and Standardize, Phase 3: Transform and Upgrade.
Recommendations of UT V2.0: Green Infrastructure Stormwater Implementation Plan: Install GI at every opportunity during new construction and major renovation projects. This shall include all paving projects, landscaping, walkways, parking lots, and building projects. Stormwater for reuse in irrigation and plumbing should be designed into infiltration basins and cisterns to use as stormwater retention, and not simply stormwater detention.
Evaluate effectiveness and maintenance requirements of each GI intervention. Monitor stormwater reduction at each new GI project. Give preference to rain gardens and bioswales for GI interventions due to their effectiveness, lower maintenance requirements, and educational, aesthetic, and pollinator value.
Consult the L-GrID model for optimal placement of GI during design. Additionally, when contracting for design services, require the proven experience with green infrastructure within the City of Chicago of those professionals.
Seek partnerships from the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. These partnerships should include funding opportunities as well as opportunities to further integrate GI to maximize stormwater runoff reduction as a community-wide benefit.
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:
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