| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.66 |
| Liaison | Marian Brown |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wells College
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Marian
Brown Director Center for Sustainability and the Environment |
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:
Under New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process for new construction or major renovation projects. As part of that review process, a comprehensive environmental assessments must be performed. Per DEC regulation, construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil must be authorized under the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. Permittees are required to develop a SWPPP to prevent discharges of construction-related pollutants to surface waters.
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:
Wells College is in the enviable position of being located in a temperate zone with plentiful rainwater. The College is beginning to be more mindful of opportunities to utilize rainwater for irrigation purposes to replace the processed potable water the College produces for both campus and village purposes. Most of the current stormwater management strategies employed relate to grounds as opposed to building-related stormwater management practices.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
We currently harvest rainwater in two areas: the courtyard of Main Building (below-ground cistern) and the stormwater pond adjacent to the old water tower on campus. We are not currently reusing water from either of those storage areas but are studying the possibility of tapping into it for irrigation purposes.
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:
The substantial undeveloped property in the parcel behind McGordon House naturally filters rainwater before it is released back into the Cayuga Lake watershed.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
We currently have no living/vegetated roofing on campus but are considering future applications with the new residence hall project.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
We currently have no permeable paving installed on campus, but are considering future applications.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
Because of drainage issues, the downspouts at Morgan Hall have been disconnected and the rainwater from that building is diverted onto nearby landscape and lawn areas.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
We currently have no rain gardens on campus.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
We have several retention basins on campus: 2 near the Woods Lot parking area, behind Weld House, and the new athletic turf field is designed to hold excess water from rain events, releasing it to nearby stormwater detention pond.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
Stratton Hall features a vegetated bioswale on the west face of the building.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
The campus roadway from McGordon House to the campus materials recovery site was recently regraded and adjacent ditches cleared in order to reduce surface erosion and stormwater runoff down the roadway. To further manage stormwater, water bars (creating "speed bumps" for water flow) were installed to divert water from the roadway to the ditches.
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.