| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.83 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | Jan. 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution use Low Impact Development (LID) practices as a matter of policy or standard practice to reduce rainwater/stormwater runoff volume and improve outgoing water quality for new construction, major renovation, and other projects?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:
Western Kentucky University is geographically located on karst landscape, meaning that our geology is characterized by caves, sinkholes, and underground streams and rivers. As such, it is vital that we practice environmentally sensitive rainwater management. We do this through landscaping practices such as use of rain gardens and bio-swales, parking lot design that utilizes green space and permeable space to improve and reduce storm water runoff, and observing LEED practices in construction and renovation projects.
None
Has the institution adopted a rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, or strategies that mitigate the rainwater runoff impacts of ongoing campus operations through the use of green infrastructure? :
Yes
None
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:
Western Kentucky University is designated as an MS4 by the EPA, and as such is required to have a storm water quality management plan. Our plan, created and adopted in 2010 can be found at: http://www.wku.edu/ehs/stormwater/stormwater.php
None
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
Western Kentucky University collects rainwater in a system of cisterns located in various areas of the campus. Some of these cisterns are connected to local irrigation systems that serve specific gardens and some are used to fill water trucks which service young tree irrigation bags.
None
Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
124,000
Gallons
None
A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
Western Kentucky University uses rain gardens to naturally filter water around sinkholes, and in several parking lots employs systems that separate oils and solids from storm water draining into karst systems.
None
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
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None
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
In a few parking lots (3) Western Kentucky University has utilized permeable paving. However the performance is less than satisfactory as the maintenance required to keep the pavement permeable is significant.
None
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
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None
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
Rain gardens exist in many areas on campus, specifically where there are drainage issues and sinkholes. The gardens are intended to slow and improve rainwater runoff.
None
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
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None
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
Campus parking lots, ecologically designed to improve and reduce storm water runoff, include vegetated and stone bioswales. These are also located in high runoff areas in campus landscaping.
None
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
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None
The website URL where information about the institution’s rainwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
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.