University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ezra
Small Sustainability Manager Physical Plant |
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:
Green Infrastructure:
Green Infrastructure strategies include rain gardens, water efficient landscaping, innovative wastewater technologies like water catchment tanks for flushing, and permeable pavement on sidewalks and parking lots. Porous pavement was installed as part of the resurfacing of Parking Lot 28. Construction occurred during FY22, but this was completed in August of 2022. This is the first large parking lot on the campus that is using porous pavement in it's entirety.
UMass has notable green infrastructure projects throughout campus including the Southwest Residential Area Concourse: https://www.umass.edu/cp/southwest-concourse-renovation; the Crotty Hall rainwater collection system: https://www.umass.edu/cp/crotty-hall#1.%20EXTERIOR; The Olver Design Building rain garden system (https://www.umass.edu/cp/olver-john-w-design-building#1.%20SITE%20DESIGN); and the Integrated Learning Center green roof, rain gardens, and rainwater cistern (https://www.umass.edu/cp/integrative-learning-center#SUSTAINABLE%20FEATURES).
LID and MS4:
In the 2022 annual stormwater report (https://ehs.umass.edu/sites/default/files/UMass%20Amherst%20ma-new-permittees-annual-report-yr4_%20signed%202022%2009%2028.pdf) published by UMass EH&S the university reports it has met the Year IV and annual requirements under the Massachusetts Small MS4 "Municipal Separate Storm sewer System” General Permit. These requirements include but are not limited to:
-Identified each outfall and interconnection discharging from MS4
-Developed written IDDE plan including a procedure for screening and sampling outfalls
-Developed written procedures to require the submission of as-built drawings and ensure the long term operation and maintenance of completed construction sites and added these procedures to the SWMP
-Developed written operations and maintenance procedures for parks and open space, buildings and facilities, and vehicles and equipment and added these procedures to the SWMP
-Developed an inventory of all permittee owned facilities in the categories of parks and open space, buildings and facilities, and vehicles and equipment and added this inventory to the SWMP Completed a written program for MS4 infrastructure maintenance to reduce the discharge of pollutants Developed written SWPPPs, included in the SWMP, for all of the following permittee owned or operated facilities: maintenance garages, public works yards, transfer stations, and other waste handling facilities where pollutants are exposed to stormwater
-Enclosed or covered storage piles of salt or piles containing salt used for deicing or other purposes
The report notes: SWPPP plans are progressing for fleet garage, PVTA garage, transfer station, landscaping, physical plant, and campus (loading docks, laboratories.) Oil and chemical storage has been identified. Most operations and storage occurs under a roof. We have a Spill Prevention and Counter Control Measure (SPCC) and an Integrated Contingency Plan for the campus. We have local spill equipment and a UMass OSHA trained HazWOper team. Employee training is documented. In FY23, each area will be identified with references, where various requirements can be found and responsible individuals.
Annual requirements were met such as:
-Provided an opportunity for public participation in review and implementation of SWMP and complied with State Public Notice Requirements
-Kept records relating to the permit available for 5 years and made available to the public -Provided training to employees involved in IDDE program within the reporting period
-Properly stored and disposed of catch basin cleanings and street sweepings so they did not discharge to receiving waters All curbed roadways were swept at least once within the reporting period
For Nitrogen runoff, annual requirements in public education and outreach and Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention for Permittee Owned Operations have been met, see page 3 for details.
For Lake and Pond Phosphorus TMDL, UMass completed a legal analysis (requirement).
The majority of the report details "Minimum Control Measures" in categories such as Public Education, Public Participation, Illicit Discharge and Elimination, Construction and Post-Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control, and Good Housekeeping. See Pages 6-23.
In the Good Housekeeping section it is reported that during the 2022 reporting period UMass inspected 149 catch basins, removed a total of 19.67 cubic feet of mass from all catch basins, and removed 113 cubic yards of material off roads from street-sweeping.
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:
STATE AND FEDERAL MANDATE:
On May 1, 2003, EPA Region 1 issued its Final General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (2003 small MS4 permit) consistent with the Phase II rule. The 2003 small MS4 permit covered "traditional" (i.e., cities and towns) and "non-traditional" (i.e., Federal and state agencies) MS4 Operators located in the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Under the 2016 MS4 general permit, which became effective on July 1, 2018, the town of Amherst was added as an urbanized area, thus UMass Amherst falls under the “non-traditional General Permit# MAR042056. The permit expires on July 1, 2023. The permit is issued and managed by both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP).
On September 27, 2018, UMass submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI). The NOI can be viewed at the website:
https://www3.epa.gov/region1/npdes/stormwater/ma/ntms4noi/umass-amherst.pdf
On July 2, 2019, UMass received the authorization to discharge from our MS4 from EPA under Permit # MAR042056.
UMass Amherst is currently working on the Storm Water Management Program (SWMP), Per the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This document was submitted in September, 2019 and can be found here:
https://ehs.umass.edu/umass-storm-water-management-plan
This document addresses how the University is addressing the MS4 mandate in terms of identification of all receiving waters, endangered and threatened species and critical habitat, measures to protect threatened species, historic properties, providing a map of the separate storm sewer system, annual program self evaluation and reporting/record keeping procedures, water quality standards, controls to reduce pollutants, BMP's, Goals and Implementation schedule, public education and outreach program, public involvement and participation, site planning and design, construction and post construction storm water management program, facilities operations and maintenance plan, lake phosphorus control plan, and nitrogen source identification reporting.
UMass EH&S publishes Annual Stormwater Reports that provide a summary of the University's Best Management Practices over the fiscal year from July 1st to June 30th.
These annual reports, including the most recent MS4 Annual Report (detailed in the first answer of this credit above) for 2022 can be found here: https://ehs.umass.edu/storm-water-annual-reports
NEW CONSTRUCTION GREEN BUILDING GUIDELINES:
All new construction and major renovations meets LEED for New Construction v4 stormwater management related credits: SSc4: Rainwater Management; WEp1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction.
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.