| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 62.11 |
| Liaison | Natalie Sobrinski |
| Submission Date | June 16, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Muhlenberg College
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Tim
Korn Maintenance Supervisor Plant Operations |
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:
Muhlenberg does use Low Impact Development (LID) strategies:
• There is a rainwater harvesting system attached to the Tree House
• There is a green roof on top of the Seegers Union building.
• There are 5 Rain Gardens near the Walz, Brown, and Taylor dormitories, where the storm water is collected by the vegetation.
• We cannot have water gardens because of the limestone deposits in the soil/ground.
• There is a detention active stormwater management system near the village and rehearsal house that captures stormwater and pumps it up to the hillside to be trickled down the hillside by a soaker hose in order to recharge the groundwater.
• None of the roof gutters wash out onto the grass, instead they are collected by a water retention area between and under the New Science Building and the Brown residence hall. This releases the water slowly after a major storm. We also have another one under the library and under the football field/track.
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:
Muhlenberg College follows all state and county and city regulations including, NPDES National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System permitting and regulation standards (http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/), on all new projects required for reducing storm water runoff rates. Muhlenberg has incorporated rain gardens, green roofing and a water detention system in efforts to reduce peak runoff volumes. During construction and renovation project Muhlenberg requires basin filters to catch debris. Muhlenberg has developed and installed a rain barrel system to collect rain water for use for the community garden.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
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:
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
The Green Roof is located on the roof of the Wood Dining Commons.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
There are 3 rain gardens on the campus and several detention
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
The campus as several water detention mechanisms on campus. There is a basin which pumps the water back up a hill to recharge the hillside with water and prevent flooding of a nearby lake. Also, other places on campus retain stormwater and slowly discharge it into the sewers.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
A mixture of no-mow grasses and fescues are utilized for the campus vegated swales
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
Underground detention systems, coupled with flow reduction orifices are used to reduce storm water discharge velocity and stream flooding. An active detention pond with a sump pump recirculating system is utilized to provide ground water re-charge at the southern edge of the campus. Green roof on portion of student union improves water quality and increases water retention.
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:
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.