| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.68 |
| Liaison | John Gardner |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kate
Nelson Chief Sustainability Officer Office of Sustainability |
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:
In 2006 Jim Wasley, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture of UWM, completed the "UWM as a Zero-Discharge Zone: A Stormwater Masterplan for the UWM Campus," with the assistance of graduate students and an interdisciplinary academic team. The Pavilion Gateway Demonstration Project, a more detailed project which is part of the Zero Discharge Zone, encompasses 4 acres of campus and is currently under construction. In addition, in the summer of 2006, Norris & Associates developed a Stormwater Management Plan to serve as a guide for UW staff to use in UWM facility planning.
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:
In 2006, "UWM as a Zero-Discharge Zone: A stormwater master plan for the UWM campus" was approved through shared governance. The stormwater masterplan was also adopted as a part of UWM's 2010 Master Plan.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
A 20,000 gallon cistern at Cambridge Commons Residence Hall connected to the main roof drainage is used for irrigation of surrounding lawns. A new 5,000-gallon cistern was placed near the Sandburg Residence Hall and will be used to water the gardens. A small 500-gallon cistern at the Physics building captures rainwater of the south awning and the water is used to water campus gardens on the south-facing Physics lawn. At the Sandburg Garden, a 5,000 gallon Aquablox underground cistern was installed.
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:
UW-Milwaukee has extensive stormwater infrastructure to filter impervious surfaces such as parking lots and building roofs; including bioswales, rain gardens, and green roofs.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
A 50,000-square-foot green roof on the Golda Meir Library features two separate roof sections and is one of the largest green roofs on a public building in Wisconsin. Cambridge Commons features two green roofs which operate as part of a stormwater system, Sandburg Commons features a two-tiered, 33,000-square-foot green roof, the Great Lakes Water Institute includes a 7,600-square-foot tray-system green roof, and a small 100-square-foot green roof was developed by a student organization, EcoTone, at the Student Union. Roofs over several parking structures at Lubar Hall and Spaights Plaza were the first green roofs on campus.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
Porous crushed-granite walkways reduce runoff at the Cambridge Commons residence hall.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
Downspout disconnection has been employed throughout the stormwater masterplan. However, not all buildings have been disconnected.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
See above.
Multiple across campus.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
Parking Lot 18, as part of the Pavilion Gateway Demonstration Project functions as a retention pond.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
Parking Lot 18, part of the Pavilion Gateway Demonstration Project, features 358 square feet of vegetated swales. The Sandburg Gardens stormwater project also includes a series of bioswales leading to an underground aquablox cistern.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
UWM features a rain garden designed to reduce the rate of stormwater runoff from the roof at Sabin Hall. Rain gardens are scattered throughout campus, including a rain garden at the Sandburg Community gardens. The Children's Center employs rain barrels to water plants. Cambridge Commons features a rainwater system whereby the north and south wings’ green roofs absorb rainwater. The highest roof channels rainwater into an underground, 20,000-gallon stormwater tank, where water is stored before use in irrigation, and rain gardens ring the courtyard. Many of the projects at UWM were completed in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.
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.