| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.79 |
| Liaison | Mary Whitney |
| Submission Date | Sept. 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Chatham University
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mary
Whitney University Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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?:
A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:
One major environmental concern in Pittsburgh is the management of stormwater runoff. With an antiquated storm system, large rain events have a harmful effect on the city's waterways. Chatham has implemented a number of techniques to reduce the effects of stormwater. First, a historical pond was restored to capture rainwater from the Mellon Green. Second, the new athletic field allows water to infiltrate and slowly releases it into the sewer system, after the main push of the rain event. In 2010, a rain barrel was installed outside of the Rea House dormitory to capture rooftop run off and for watering the surrounding garden. In summer 2011, a rain garden was installed behind Dilworth Hall that contains certain species of plants capable of withstanding more saturation from water runoff.
All new buildings will be planned to have a rain garden, and all existing buildings where a rain garden is possible are having them installed over a 10-year period.
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? :
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:
As described above: One major environmental concern in Pittsburgh is the management of stormwater runoff. With an antiquated storm system, large rain events have a harmful effect on the city's waterways. Chatham has implemented a number of techniques to reduce the effects of stormwater. First, a historical pond was restored to capture rainwater from the Mellon Green. Second, the new athletic field allows water to infiltrate and slowly releases it into the sewer system, after the main push of the rain event. In 2010, a rain barrel was installed outside of the Rea House dormitory to capture rooftop run off and for watering the surrounding garden. In summer 2011, a rain garden was installed behind Dilworth Hall that contains certain species of plants capable of withstanding more saturation from water runoff.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
At Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus, rainwater harvesting is combined to manage stormwater runoff with permeable surfaces, natural drainage, 22,027 sf of infiltration galleries (small pipes in gravel that collect water when it rains), and almost 30,000 sf of rain gardens. Rain gardens feature deep-rooted native shrubs, perennials, and grasses that receive runoff from roofs, sidewalks, streets and parking lots, and hold the water in a shallow depression as it slowly infiltrates into the ground.
Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
In the rainwater harvesting system at Eden Hall, water is filtered six times, starting with fine mesh screens that fit over the gutters and ending with a UV filter that eliminates pathogens and other contaminants.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
In addition to what may be the oldest green roof in America above our Mellon Board Room (installed in early 1900s with two mature honey locusts as features of the plantings), we have a smaller green roof on the new addition to the Mellon Building. More green roofs are planned, including one on the Eddy Theater to support beehives.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
Porous paving is laid behind Rea, Laughlin and Beatty Halls. We also use brick laid on sand, wood chips on sand, and gravel for pathways. All Eden Hall parking lots use permeable paving in conjunction with other methods for rainwater harvesting and stormwater runoff (bioswales, rain gardens, underground cisterns, etc).
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
We have a demonstration and educational rain barrel on Beatty House, which was installed in partnership with the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. This was done as a class workshop for students, staff and alumnae, as well as neighbors. It holds 96 gallons of rainwater and drains slowly over 24 hours.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
Chatham has over 30,000 square feet of rain gardens at Eden Hall, plus a rain garden on our Shadyside campus that collects runoff before it reaches Dilworth Hall from the hillside behind the building. All of the gardens are planted with native plants well-suited to the continuous wet-dry conditions. The Dilworth Garden was adapted from a winning design from a student competition.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
Mellon Pond has been redesigned to manage runoff from the Mellon Building and the surrounding hillside. There are also 7,074 square feet of bioretention areas at the Eden Hall campus in the amphitheater and bioswales.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
All parking lots at the Eden Hall campus have bioswales to reduce pollution and silt from runoff.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
We have a complicated and extensive system of piping, sand beds, and baffles beneath an artificial turf playing field designed to slow the water down in heavy rain events, and allow reabsorption before reaching the public sewer system in lighter events. Eden Hall campus currently has 41,983 square feet of permeable paving, and 57% of all new paving surfaces will be permeable.
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:
More information about the Eden Hall catchment system: http://www.chatham.edu/news/index.php/2015/06/chatham-views/harvesting-rainwater-at-eden-hall-campus
Stormwater management practices in the Eden Hall Campus Master Plan: https://www.chatham.edu/edenhall/documents/EdenHallMasterPlan_Rev082113.pdf
Sometimes we harvest a bit more than rainwater in our rain gardens: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=675894339210813&
set=gm.1872395232986657&type=1&theater
More information about the Eden Hall catchment system: http://www.chatham.edu/news/index.php/2015/06/chatham-views/harvesting-rainwater-at-eden-hall-campus
Stormwater management practices in the Eden Hall Campus Master Plan: https://www.chatham.edu/edenhall/documents/EdenHallMasterPlan_Rev082113.pdf
Sometimes we harvest a bit more than rainwater in our rain gardens: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=675894339210813&
set=gm.1872395232986657&type=1&theater
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