| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.39 |
| Liaison | Tina Woolston |
| Submission Date | Nov. 12, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Tufts University
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
John
Vik Grounds Supervisor Facilities |
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:
Tufts follows Massachusetts' stormwater policies and regulations. See http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/stormwat.htm for details.
Sophia Gordon Hall has a stormwater management system that exceeds the requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Management Policy and includes a reduction in peak stormwater runoff. The total site area of Sophia Gordon Hall is 50,000 square feet. 58% of the site (approximately 21,000 square feet) is pervious (i.e. water can penetrate directly into the soil). A number of catch basins, a Stormtech infiltration system, and an underground detention Advanced Drainage System (ADS) reduce the rate of runoff into the city's storm sewer by maintaining or holding the water and releasing it slowly.
Additional stormwater retention systems have been integrated into recent construction projects.
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:
The use of a rain garden, swales, dry wells and detention ponds, proper aerating and soil amendments to promote infiltration.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
Rain Gardens, rain barrels, and porous pavement are starting to be implemented as standard construction practices on the Medford campus. Rain barrels, swales, and detention ponds are used on the Grafton campus.
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:
None
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
The Tisch library has a vegetated roof. For more information, see: http://tuftsjournal.tufts.edu/2010/06_1/briefs/02/
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
Permeable pavement sidewalks have been installed around a dormitory on the residential quadrangle on the Medford campus. Spaced pavers are used for rear entries and patios on the Grafton campus to encourage infiltration and curb excess water run off at its Wildlife Center.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
The Loew Center on the Grafton campus utilizes disconnected rain leaders to provide lawn irrigation. Rain barrels are used at the Facilities Services headquarters on the Medford campus.
50% of the buildings on the Medford/Somerville campus have downspouts that drain into dry wells.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
The Medford Campus has rain gardens at the lower campus dormitory quadrangle and 574 Boston Ave. The Grafton campus has a rain garden near the east patio of the Loew Center.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
The Grafton campus has retention pond located at the intersection of Cornfield and Discovery Drives. The Medford campus has 10,000 gallon detention cisterns near the Tisch Fitness Center and Sophia Gorden Hall. Medford also has large stormwater retention areas located under the Bello sports field and near Baronian Field House. More details are described in the project manager's notes below.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
Grafton has a stone swale on the east side of Cornfield Lane to minimize washout and another stone swale near the Loew Center.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
Sophia Gordon Hall
Erosion and sediment from building sites can have considerable ecological consequences. During construction, a comprehensive erosion and sedimentation (E&S) plan was done and implemented.
The Athletics project (Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center) includes below-grade "Stormtech" storage chambers that retain stormwater runoff from the adjacent paved areas (primarily the parking lot behind the Eliot-Pearson School and the driveway along Gantcher Field House), allowing some infiltration and some temporary retention so that post-construction peak discharge rates from the overall site do not exceed pre-construction peak discharge rates from the overall site.
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.