Frequently Asked Storm Water Questions
What is the primary cause of water pollution in urban areas?
Storm water runoff is the primary cause of water pollution in urban areas. Hard scapes on campus (roofs, parking lots, sidewalks) do not allow rainfall to soak into the ground. Storm water runoff from hard surfaces is discharged through storm sewers to nearby water bodies and often carries trash and other pollutants from the storm sewer systems to streams and rivers.
Why is it important to manage storm water?
Heavy rains and the resultant runoff from hard surfaces can cause erosion and flooding that results in damage to habitat, property and infrastructure.
What is green infrastructure?
When rain falls in undeveloped areas, the water is absorbed and filtered by soil and plants. Green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils and management practices to restore some of the natural processes to create healthier environments.
What are some of the green infrastructure practices at UNI?
The university has installed bio-swales, green parking, green roofs, rain gardens, stream bank stabilization and permeable paving to better manage storm water runoff.
What are rain gardens?
Rain gardens are landscape features that are shallow, vegetated basins that collect and absorb runoff from rooftops, sidewalks and streets. Rain gardens are also referred to as bio-retention cells. Rain gardens also provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds and other wildlife.
What are bio-swales?
Bio-swales are vegetated and mulched channels that provide treatment and retention as they move storm water from one place to another in a linear manner. They are well-suited to being placed along streets and parking lots and because they are vegetated, they slow, infiltrate and filter storm water flows.
What is permeable paving?
Permeable pavements infiltrate, treat and store rainwater where it falls. They can be constructed of pervious concrete, porous asphalt or permeable interlocking pavers. Permeable paving can soak in up to 80 percent and often 100 percent of precipitation and also filters out contaminates in runoff that contribute to water pollution. All three of these systems can be found on the UNI campus.
What are green roofs?
Green roofs are comprised of a growing media covered with vegetation that enables rainfall infiltration.
How do trees contribute to storm water management?
Trees reduce and slow storm water by capturing precipitation in their leaves and branches. A tree canopy can also reduce heat islands due to the evaporation process from the leaves that creates a cool environment under the trees.
Why is the university involved with Storm Water Best Management Practices?
Storm water runoff can pick up pollutants as it makes its way through storm drains and ditches to nearby streams and rivers, which ultimately flow to lakes and oceans. Pollutant runoff is one of the most significant threats to clean water in the United States. Positive outcomes of storm water management on campus include:
- Prevents water pollution by filtering water naturally
- Reduces flooding potential by reducing runoff
- Protects our water resources by replenishing groundwater
- Beautifies campus by creating flowering habitats
- Cools the air by reducing heat islands with tree canopies
What actions has UNI taken to reduce pollution?
- Installed pervious paving in plazas and parking lots
- Installed bio-swales, vegetation strips and rain gardens
- Installed green roof
- Mapped storm water intakes and outfalls
- Implemented a construction site inspection program
- Developed a spill prevention containment and counter measures plan
- Labeled all storm water intakes
- Implemented a storm water intake maintenance process
- Reduced herbicide application
- Established a hotline to report storm water problems/violations
- Implemented streambank stabilization and restoration projects to reduce erosion
- Developed a litter collection program for large campus events
- Increased recycling program