| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.01 |
| Liaison | Jen Crothers |
| Submission Date | Aug. 4, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of British Columbia
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Doug
Doyle Associate Director, Infrastructure + Services Planning Campus & Community Planning |
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:
All new developments on campus are required to detain the 10 year storm and release the water at the 2 year storm outflow rate. All new institutional construction and major renovations are required to achieve LEED Gold certification, with the stormwater quantity control credit (SSc6.1) being mandatory as specified in the UBC LEED Implementation Guide (http://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/sustain.ubc.ca/files/uploads/CampusSustainability/CS_PDFs/GreenBuildings/UBCLEEDImplementationGuideline_20130424.pdf). Designers are encouraged to use aggressive management practices and best management practices are a requirement.
The UBC Technical Guidelines (http://technicalguidelines.ubc.ca/) and UBC Vancouver Campus Plan Design Guidelines (http://planning.ubc.ca/vancouver/planning/policies-plans/land-use-governance-documents/vancouver-campus-plan) both address requirements with respect to stormwater management over the campus.
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:
UBC recently completed a new Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) to improve the handling of stormwater and rainwater runoff on campus. This plan identifies methods to reduce the impact stormwater has on the receiving bodies of water and the neighbouring lands it passes through. Detention and retention tactics are included as part of best management practices and green infrastructure is encouraged wherever possible through the use of bioswales and absorbent landscaping. More information about the ISMP is available online at: http://planning.ubc.ca/vancouver/projects-consultations/consultations-engagement/integrated-stormwater-management-plan-ismp.
UBC’s LEED requirements for new construction and major renovation projects are outlined in the UBC LEED Implementation Guide. This companion document to the UBC Vancouver Campus Plan Design Guidelines and UBC Technical Guidelines serves to coordinate LEED implementation and certification. The Guide is intended to provide project teams with UBC-specific guidance to optimize LEED for the campus, clearly identifying priorities for UBC buildings including credits that are mandatory and/or expected at UBC, including stormwater quantity control.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
A rainwater harvesting system was installed at the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building to supply potable water, but in the performance period the system was still in an extended commissioning phase. A rainwater system was also installed in the C.K. Choi building for irrigation purposes, but is not currently operational. At the Buchanan buildings, a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation was installed, which is also completing commissioning.
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 rainwater filtering system has been installed in the CIRS building which is in an extended commissioning phase.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
The Beaty Biodiversity Building and CIRS both have vegetated roofs that help retain water.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
Porous paving has been used on campus in limited areas. The limitation is that excess groundwater can cause increased erosion at cliffs adjacent to the campus.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
New buildings around the Fairview Commons have been disconnected and drain stormwater to an infiltration system.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
A small rain garden is being built to handle the storm drainage from a parking lot at Thunderbird Field. Rain gardens have been installed in the Wesbrook Place residential development and in the Scarfe Building courtyard.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
Stormwater retention ponds have been constructed on campus to detain major storm events. One pond is capable of handling 1700 cubic metres and the other 200 cubic metres. More are planned as part of the Integrated Stormwater Management Plan.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
Bioswales have been used alongside major pedestrian corridors. There are both vegetated bioswales and stone bioswales. The most notable use is vegetated bioswales along the length of the Main Mall and the use of stone bioswales in Fairview Commons and Sustainability Street.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
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.