| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.37 |
| Liaison | Ruairi O'Mahony |
| Submission Date | Feb. 11, 2022 |
University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Glenn
MacDonald Executive Director of Environmental & Emergency Management Environmental & Emergency Management |
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:
For all new development on campus, the University will implement at least one sustainable stormwater management practice, as feasible, that will serve to improve upon or supplement city, state and federal stormwater requirements. The following are examples of Low Impact Development, Green Infrastructure, and Best sustainable stormwater management practices the University may consider:
a. Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure Practices
The EPA published a list of stormwater LID and Green Infrastructure practices and accompanying resources online. The “Low Impact Development (LID)” web page can be found on the EPA’s Pollution Prevention and Control website. The “Green Infrastructure” web page can be found on the EPA’s Water Infrastructure website. Some examples include:
• Green Roofs / Vegetated Roofs
• Rain Barrels and Cisterns
• Permeable Sidewalks
• Bioretention Areas
• Vegetated Swales/Dry Swales
• Curb and Gutter Elimination
• Rainwater Harvesting for Irrigation
• Examples of LID and Green Infrastructure projects that have been successfully implemented can be found on Greening EPA’s “Stormwater Management Practices at EPA Facilities” webpage.
b. Best Management Practices (BMPs)
The EPA also published suggested Stormwater BMPs for each Minimum Control Measure to support the SWMP. Examples include:
• Smart Growth Techniques
• Better Site Design
• Construction Phase Plan Review
• Vegetated Filter Strips
• Sand and Organic Filters
• Additional BMPs can be found on the “National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices” page of the EPA’s NPDES website.
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 University endeavors to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff to as close to zero as possible. The University will strive to implement various stormwater management strategies such as green infrastructure and Low Impact Development techniques to minimize the addition of impervious surfaces and land disturbance. For runoff produced by ongoing campus operations, the University will consider strategies, when feasible, to mitigate impacts through Best Management Practices, water reuse, and maintenance of stormwater management systems. Some of these practices and performance metrics are included in the university's comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP).
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.