Delta College
OP-23: Rainwater Management

Rainwater Harvesting: Harvesting rainwater is a four step process—Capturing, Storing, Filtration, and Delivery

Step 1: Capturing the Rainwater - Water is harvested from three sources. Rooftop drains collect rainwater, subsurface foundation drains capture groundwater, and air-conditioner condensate is piped into the system. The water passes through a swirl vortex, or pre-filter, to remove organic debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt.

Step 2: Storing the Rainwater - Water is stored in an underground cistern. In times of excess rainfall, the overflow is diverted to a detention field and stored in a series of underground pipes which regulate the release of the water.

Step 3: Filtering the Rainwater - Water is channeled through bag filters that trap and remove particulates as fine as human hair, dust, flour, sand, and pollens. An ultraviolet purifier treats the water against microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.

Step 4: Delivering the Rainwater - Well pumps deliver the clean harvested water into the building through a dedicated piping system and distributed to the restrooms to flush toilets and to hydrate a living wall. Excess water is diverted for landscape irrigation.

Stormwater Management: Rain events are managed by a comprehensive stormwater management program that mimics a natural hydrologic process where rainwater is conveyed from parking lot bioswale islands into detention ponds. Water flows into an adjacent wet meadow before discharge into the regional drainage system. Native seed and aquatic plantings aid in attracting water habitat and creating a living laboratory for environmental study.

Sustainable Building Design
Policy Guidelines

Delta College has established itself as a leader in environmental responsibility by engaging in and demonstrating sustainability practices that enhance the life-cycle of its materials, equipment, and infrastructure. To further its progress towards reducing the impact of the campus on the environment, Delta College adopts a plan to:

1) Design and construct all new buildings, including major renovation projects, to meet or exceed LEED Silver standards whenever possible with consideration to program needs and budget parameters.

2) Address sustainable building principles to the fullest extent possible in new, existing, and renovated buildings including landscape and infrastructure projects. Sustainable business principles include those elements of planning, design, and construction that promote the efficient use of energy and material resources, water conservation, and the protection of land and water environments. Projects utilizing this approach will use the LEED process and rating system to the fullest extent possible within principles of efficient use of financial resources.

3) Incorporate LEED points related to optimizing energy, green cleaning and maintenance, and other applicable measures to all new and existing buildings as deemed operationally and financially feasible.

4) Establish methods to achieve measurable life-cycle cost savings.

5) Evaluate and change, as appropriate, existing College processes to promote the development and operation of sustainable building.

6) Actively seek environmentally innovative projects and use of innovative technology to achieve these objectives.