Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.92
Liaison Keisha Payson
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Bowdoin College
OP-27: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Keisha Payson
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainable Bowdoin
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:

Bowdoin utilizes a rainwater capture system on the roof of two dorms for toilet flushing in those two buildings. The college landscapes with indigenous plants that do not require irrigation. Additionally, surfaces are designed to direct rainwater runoff toward plants and maintain plant health. Bowdoin has several storm water retention ponds, vegetative swales, infiltration galleries, under drained soil filters, and under drained bio-retention cells. The Building Design Standards for Renovation Projects has a section devoted to reduction of stormwater runoff. And Bowdoin has pursued stormwater credits on all LEED projects


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

A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:

The strategies in the rainwater/stormwater management plan are the results of our effort to lower the impact of new development. For example- roof water harvesting was the result of LID practices during design of the dorm, vegetative swales are the result of LID practices when building soccer fields.


A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:

Bowdoin utilizes a rainwater capture system on the roof of two residence halls for toilet flushing in those two buildings.


Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
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A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:

Bowdoin has two retention ponds to remove sedimentation and debris from stormwater runoff while minimizing peak flow rates into the watershed.


A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:

Bowdoin installed a green roof on its heating plant in Fall 2011, which has helped to reduce heat loss and maximize water usage by directing runoff to the plants growing there (seasonally).


A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:

Rain water collected on roofs of several buildings are connected to infiltration facilities rather than connected to a college or town stormwater system.


A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
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A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:

Bowdoin has two retention ponds to remove sedimentation and debris from stormwater runoff while minimizing peak flow rates into the watershed.


A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):

Bowdoin has several stone swales strategically located around campus, several of which are vegetated to improve soil water retention and reduce runoff.


A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
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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.