Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.79
Liaison Leslie North
Submission Date March 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

Western Kentucky University
OP-22: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
Less comprehensive policies, plans or guidelines that incorporate green infrastructure

A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:

Western Kentucky University is geographically located on a 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, implementation of rain barrels, parking lot designs that utilize green space, increased "green space" on campus to help rain water filtration, developing leaching areas for rainwater runoff prior to entering the storm drain system, monthly inspection of storm drains throughout campus, and observing LEED practices in construction and renovation projects. The university is an MS4 storm water property and is nested within the City of Bowling Green's MS4. Together the City of Bowling Green and WKU work closely together to help keep our streams, creeks, and rivers free from debris, sediment build up, and toxins from leaving the university property.


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 Campus Services Department supports the university's rain water management plan by conducting monthly inspections on the storm water drains and basins throughout the footprint of the university. Monthly inspections are performed on storm water drains to help keep them clean from debris and sediment build up. Drains that have become blocked are documented, and placed on the clean out list for remediation. Annually or bi-annually, WKU enlists the services of a local contractor to vacuum out the documented drains in order to remove sediment and debris.

Western Kentucky University is designated as an MS4 by the EPA, so it 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


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:

Information provided by the WKU Facilities Management and WKU Environmental, Health, and Safety Divisions.


Information provided by the WKU Facilities Management and WKU Environmental, Health, and Safety Divisions.

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