University of Texas at San Antonio
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mei L
May Director Office of Sustainability 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:
In 2019 the Office of Sustainability began an initiative to implement LID policies to support water reduction strategies. UTSA Main campus is located over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge. Strategies include LID standards inclusive of all new construction over 10 million. Targets align with our green infrastructure standards. The SP1 building constructed in 2022 included a bioswale for abating storm water runoff generated onsite. the SP2 currently in construction has a bioswale included in the design. Our new housing unit, 600+ bed facility in design for beginning construction in Dec. 2023 will incorporated green infrastructure policies and ecological protection and enhancement of an existing recharge feature. A 14 acres parking lot on Main campus constructed two bioswales and vegetative filters to treat stormwater run off and minimize flow downstream. A bioswale was constructed on site in 2019 to retrofit 9.4 acres of previously existing sidewalks, parking lot, and rooftops through a grant from the City of San Antonio. Finally our new Mesquite Living Lab was constructed with a bioswale to treat run off from a previously existing parking lot.
The University of Texas at San Antonio provides temporary storm water treatment for construction projects. Projects employ a variety of storm water Best Management Practices (BMP’s) so that solids attributed to construction sites can be minimized before entering the storm system or open water ways.
Ongoing campus operations are closely monitored for water quality. The university regulates operations, development , and university events in order to reduce discharge of water laden with suspended solids or regulated and hazardous materials into our sewers and open water ways. This includes spill containment planning, prevention, emergency contact information, and education. Impervious cover is treated with permanent BMP’s including vegetative filter strips, water quality treatment basins and vegetated treatment swales. Management activities are in place and personnel are provided to protect the effectiveness of these controls.
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:
The University of Texas at San Antonio provides temporary storm water treatment for construction projects. Projects employ a variety of storm water Best Management Practices (BMP’s) so that solids attributed to construction sites can be minimized before entering the storm system or open water ways.
Ongoing campus operations are closely monitored for water quality. The university regulates operations, development , and university events in order to reduce discharge of water laden with suspended solids or regulated and hazardous materials into our sewers and open water ways. This includes spill containment planning, prevention, emergency contact information, and education. Impervious cover is treated with permanent BMP’s including vegetative filter strips, water quality treatment basins and vegetated treatment swales. Management activities are in place and personnel are provided to protect the effectiveness of these controls.
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:
Roof Top Harvesting and Stormwater Disbursement over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone: A Retrofit for Previously Untreated Impervious Cover
Funding Recipient
UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio)
Description
The project will retrofit rooftops, parking lots, roadways, and sidewalks at UTSA Main Campus through diversion of stormwater runoff into a newly constructed suite of connected projects including cisterns, pervious pavement, a vegetated bioswale and forebay, a rain garden, and a bioretention and sand filtration area.
Total Funding
$1,057,401
Justification for the Project
The original design of the Main Campus called for stormwater to be conveyed away from the property through a system of storm drains and open swales that ultimately outfall into Leon Creek. The original campus development pre-dates current regulatory compliance for water quality and impervious cover treatment and is considered Previously Untreated Impervious Cover (PUIC), which does not require treatment. Originally 108 acres of the original campus is PUIC, including the area to be treated through this project.
Summary of Deliverables
Construction of above-listed LID features and development of LID BMP maintenance plan
Pre- and post-construction stormwater monitoring
BMP business plan with cost analysis that can be adopted for other entities
Educational signage and outdoor LID classroom/lab
Project Objectives
Bring the project area into compliance with today’s standards through highly visible LID features
Monitor the efficacy of LID features and their ability to remove solids and pollutants, reduce heat, and provide aesthetic alternative stormwater treatments.
Develop a cost analysis of the BMPs.
Provide educational signage and outdoor classroom.
Capture Edwards water on-site from rooftops and utilize it vs. an irrigation system for irrigation
Method
LID features are to be constructed in the Master Planned green space area called the East Lawn and Paseo Principal, which already has dedicated maintenance staff assigned to it.
The Paseo is a highly-trafficked area leading to the Convocation Center and the UC events venue housing ballrooms, meeting spaces, and food vendors. Maintenance of the BMPs will reflect its importance.
The Quality Assurance Plan will be a collaborative effort between UTSA Facilities and the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology.
Prior to construction, sampling equipment will be installed to assess rainfall, stormflow at inflows and outflows of current treatment areas, and pollutant load of several constituents.
After construction, stormwater sampling will continue for at least 5 stormwater events in order to assess new treatment effectiveness
Roof Top Harvesting and Stormwater Disbursement over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone: A Retrofit for Previously Untreated Impervious Cover
Funding Recipient
UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio)
Description
The project will retrofit rooftops, parking lots, roadways, and sidewalks at UTSA Main Campus through diversion of stormwater runoff into a newly constructed suite of connected projects including cisterns, pervious pavement, a vegetated bioswale and forebay, a rain garden, and a bioretention and sand filtration area.
Total Funding
$1,057,401
Justification for the Project
The original design of the Main Campus called for stormwater to be conveyed away from the property through a system of storm drains and open swales that ultimately outfall into Leon Creek. The original campus development pre-dates current regulatory compliance for water quality and impervious cover treatment and is considered Previously Untreated Impervious Cover (PUIC), which does not require treatment. Originally 108 acres of the original campus is PUIC, including the area to be treated through this project.
Summary of Deliverables
Construction of above-listed LID features and development of LID BMP maintenance plan
Pre- and post-construction stormwater monitoring
BMP business plan with cost analysis that can be adopted for other entities
Educational signage and outdoor LID classroom/lab
Project Objectives
Bring the project area into compliance with today’s standards through highly visible LID features
Monitor the efficacy of LID features and their ability to remove solids and pollutants, reduce heat, and provide aesthetic alternative stormwater treatments.
Develop a cost analysis of the BMPs.
Provide educational signage and outdoor classroom.
Capture Edwards water on-site from rooftops and utilize it vs. an irrigation system for irrigation
Method
LID features are to be constructed in the Master Planned green space area called the East Lawn and Paseo Principal, which already has dedicated maintenance staff assigned to it.
The Paseo is a highly-trafficked area leading to the Convocation Center and the UC events venue housing ballrooms, meeting spaces, and food vendors. Maintenance of the BMPs will reflect its importance.
The Quality Assurance Plan will be a collaborative effort between UTSA Facilities and the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology.
Prior to construction, sampling equipment will be installed to assess rainfall, stormflow at inflows and outflows of current treatment areas, and pollutant load of several constituents.
After construction, stormwater sampling will continue for at least 5 stormwater events in order to assess new treatment effectiveness
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.