| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.94 |
| Liaison | Caitlin Steele |
| Submission Date | July 21, 2023 |
San Francisco State University
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
caitlin
Steele Dr of Sust & Energy Sustainability |
Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
The campus covers approximately 151 acres, including 98 acres of impervious roofs, roadways, and hardscapes, and 53 acres of pervious landscaped areas. The majority of stormwater runoff from these surfaces flows into the city’s combined sewer system. Most stormwater runoff at SF State enters the piped network without any management of water quality or quantity. A few areas on campus have incorporated stormwater management features, including the rain garden adjacent to the Corporation Yard; the campus flagship rainwater harvesting system collecting 12,000 gallons of rainwater per year for irrigation; and the Academic (Science) Building Bioswale that captures, treats, and infiltrates approximately 60,000 gallons of rainwater per year from the Academic (Science) Building roof.
Newer buildings on campus typically meet SFPUC stormwater management requirements. The Mashouf Wellness Center, for example, incorporates flow-thru planters and pervious pavements to meet stormwater retention requirements. Runoff from approximately 12 acres of the lower valley, Merced. This pipe is a Municipal Separate Sewer Storm System (MS4), meaning it collects only stormwater and is regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to prevent pollutants from being released into Lake Merced. The City of San Francisco is the permit holder. SF State has initiated a memorandum of understanding with the city that requires some best management practices (BMPs) to ensure that water quality requirements are being met. Proposed The University will strive to have new buildings on campus meet or exceed the City of San Francisco Stormwater Ordinance and Stormwater Management Requirements (SMR). The majority of the campus lies within the city combined sewer area. New developments will be required to meet stormwater discharge reductions using green infrastructure methods, such as bioretention and permeable pavements. Specific requirements vary, depending on the existing and proposed site coverage. Future State 2035 recommends combining decentralized (parcel-based) stormwater facilities and centralized facilities to meet campus-wide requirements. A new centralized bioretention facility in the lower valley will maximize treatment and infiltration of stormwater from adjacent watersheds and exceed regulatory requirements. By over-complying at the centralized facility, SF State can bank stormwater credits for future projects that have limited space or other site specific constraints, such as zero lot line developments along Holloway Avenue or developments on podiums. The centralized facility will also be a focal point that celebrates stormwater, ecology, and sustainability. Research opportunities on topics such as groundwater recharge and stormwater-quality management can be integrated into the design as well. The central bioretention facility will require an overflow when large storms occur. Two options are identified for this overflow, and they should be explored in detail during design and implementation. encompassing the tennis courts, Maloney Field, surrounding paths, and maintenance roads, flows into a dedicated storm drain pipe that sends water into Lake Merced.
A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
A comprehensive LID rainwater management campus-wide approach is included in the most recent physical master plan.
https://plan.sfsu.edu/futurestate
According to the San Francisco Stormwater Management Ordinance (SMO), new and redevelopment projects must manage stormwater to achieve a minimum of 75% capture and control. This means that at least 75% of the stormwater runoff from a project must be kept on site or treated before it is discharged to the Bay or ocean. All new developments, including the current projects Housing @ West Campus and the New Science Building, will exceed SFPUC Stormwater Management Ordinance, which includes bioretention, pervious concrete, and rainwater retention. The SFPUC Guidelines and Ordinance are available here: https://www.sfpuc.org/construction-contracts/design-guidelines-standards/stormwater-requirements
Here is a link to water-saving measures undertaken by SF State grounds: https://facilities.sfsu.edu/groundssustainabilitymeasures
Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Links:
https://plan.sfsu.edu/futurestate
https://www.sfpuc.org/construction-contracts/design-guidelines-standards/stormwater-requirements
https://facilities.sfsu.edu/groundssustainabilitymeasures
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.