| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.41 |
| Liaison | Susan Dorward |
| Submission Date | April 14, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Raritan Valley Community College
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Susan
Dorward Sustainability and Energy Coordinator Facilities and Grounds |
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:
New construction projects will have rain water capture of some form wherever feasible. Water could be filtered and stored for use in building toilets, as was done in the new Student Center. A green roof could be built on the roof of new or existing buildings, as was done on Hunterdon Hall and is planned for the Student Center.
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:
RVCC has implemented stormwater management projects as part of the campus River Friendly certification, which was awarded in June 2011. The college works hard to reduce stormwater and manage stream buffers. No mow and vegetated areas buffer the streams. Rain barrels, rain harvesting systems, and stormwater basins capture runoff. New construction projects include rainwater harvesting and green roofs.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
The Student Center, opened in February 2014, has a rainwater harvesting system. The system provides water for the toilets in all six bathrooms (18 toilets), in addition to the living wall irrigation system. All stormwater is collected from the roof and upper patio and fed into a 4,000 gallon tank in the basement. Water from the main tank is fed through two water filters and two UV lights, and then into a small water tank that is pressurized with a pump. The water is then fed up to the bathrooms and irrigation control box. The main tank has an overflow pipe that feeds into the stormwater system when the tank is full. When the main tank is empty or the system is being serviced, water is supplied from city water. The tank was in operation for 5 months of the performance year. We estimate using 410 gal/day, for a total of 61,500 in the performance year.
RVCC has three cisterns (500, 800, and 800 gal) that collect water from the Grounds Garage (2010) and the Conference Center (March 2014). This water is used for irrigation of planted areas on campus, and has been used for the rain garden and the student-run organic garden. It will be used in the enabling garden planned for 2015. We estimate using 15,000 gallons of water per year per cistern, for a total of 45,000.
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:
For the 4,000 gallon Student Center tank, water is fed from the tank through two water filters and two UV lights.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
There is a 600 square foot green roof over the Faculty Lounge in Hunterdon Hall. A vegetable and herb green roof is planned for the Student Center.
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:
A rain garden was planted in front of the Conference Center in 2011. It is fed with rainwater from the Conference Center roof (after the rain barrels are filled). The garden has an underdrain and is filled with native plants and grasses.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
The college has two retention basins below lots 1 and 3, referred to as the East and West basins. The West basin was enlarged in 2014 to accommodate the Science Building addition and planned Workforce Development building. An Aquaswirl vortex water quality treatment device filters sediment and debris out of water fed into the West basin.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
The campus has two stormwater basins and an Aquaswirl device that captures trash and sediment from a portion of the campus runoff.
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:
Student Center rainwater harvesting system http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2014/02/raritan_valley_community_college_marks_opening_of_the_new_bateman_center.html
Gallons calculated using (250*1.28 + 5) gal/day * 150 days for Student Center, 15,000 gal/yr for Grounds Garage, and 1/3 * (30,000 gal/yr) for Conference Center.
Student Center rainwater harvesting system http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2014/02/raritan_valley_community_college_marks_opening_of_the_new_bateman_center.html
Gallons calculated using (250*1.28 + 5) gal/day * 150 days for Student Center, 15,000 gal/yr for Grounds Garage, and 1/3 * (30,000 gal/yr) for Conference Center.
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.