UNIVERSITIES AND GREEN STORMWATER

INFRASTRUCTUREJEREMY DINER

LOYOLA COLLEGE (CHICAGO, IL)

Led by students and faculty, Loyola College is

reducing basement backups, helping clean up

Lake Michigan and protecting migratory birds.

Diverts 19 million gallons/yr from sewers.

55,000 sqft of green roofs, the most of any

college campus

Has permeable pavers, rain gardens, an

underground biofiltration system, and 7

cisterns for irrigation and toilets. Photo: Loyola Institute of Environmental Sustainability

TEXAS A&M (COLLEGE STATION, TX)

Sustainability master plan through 2038 with

stormwater management and water conservation as

a major component.

• Liberal Arts and Humanities Building has a

20,000-gallon cistern for irrigation.

• Seven LEED certified buildings including 4

with cisterns.

Photo: Melissa Philip

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (WASHINGTON, DC)

Hilltop location demands careful stormwater

management to protect the Potomac River.

Regents Hall has a green roof and a 20,000

gallon cistern for greywater and irrigation.

The future Healey Student Center will

capture rainwater for rain gardens and

native plants.Photo: Georgetown University

MESA COLLEGE (SAN DIEGO, CA)

Their “commitment to access, success, equity,

and to foster an effect of positive change

within our community” inspired GSI

installation on campus.

37% reduction in water use and 75%

reduction in outdoor water use.

Saving over 400,000 gal/yr., all of which is

used for irrigation

Includes 6 cisterns, permeable pavement,

landscape filtration, an organic rooftop

garden, and low flow toilets

Photo: Balfour Beatty

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (ATLANTA, GA)

Campus has a Stormwater Master Plan covering 180

acres.

Reducing water demand by 400,000 gal/yr.,

and reducing runoff by 50%.

Aiming for 1.2” runoff reduction when 1.0”

is required, saving an extra $2 million from

reduction in water bills.

Undergraduate Learning Commons

includes a 1.4 million gallon cistern, the

largest on a US campus

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (ATHENS, GA)

Reduced their water consumption by 30% since

2007.

Fifteen cisterns collect and store over

530,000 gallons water for reuse, primarily

irrigation

Over fifty rain gardens

Photo: Environmental Journalism at UGA

EMORY UNIVERSITY (ATLANTA, GA)

Rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery system

accounts for over 4 million gallons of water per year.

Six cisterns account for 350,000 gallons of

storage, used for irrigation and toilet flushing

New residence complex diverts water

through filters and bioswales before entering

a reservoir which provides 2,170 gal/day to

flush toilets.

Biomedical research facility pipes HVAC

condensate into nearby cooling towers,

conserves 2.5 million gallons a year.

Photo: Department of Watershed Management

ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER (ATLANTA, GA)

• Student teams completed conceptual plans at Clark

Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological

Center, Morris Brown College, Spelman College and

adjacent properties.

• Seeks to address Proctor Creek urban water quality issues

and urban flooding by working with AUC and

community to create green space, beautification and

connectivity, while fostering community ownership.

SPELMAN COLLEGE, ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER (ATLANTA, GA)

• Earned the Tree Campus Certification for

the fifth time in 2019 due to commitments

to conservation and environmental

initiatives.

• Spelman’s Green Dorms are an example of

their commitment to green infrastructure.

• 68,000 gallon irrigation cistern is supplied

primarily with stormwater

Photo: spelman.edu

SPELMAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ARTS

Stormwater planning:

• 2-yr planning stage to design for cisterns, conservation of potable water, and save money

• Designed to capture 3.3 million gallons, 7x the volume capture that was originally proposed.

• Partnership funded by the Georgia Power Foundation

Photo: spelman.edu

ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER: BRAWLEY DRIVE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY AND GREEN SPACE

Street and adjacent lot converted into safe outdoor

feature linking student interaction with nature, and

connecting the rest of AUC to the library.

• Channels rain and runoff to rain gardens

• Uses permeable pavers, native vegetation, and

recycled water for irrigation

• Functions as an outdoor venue with seating and

tables. Space is functional, aesthetic, and safe