University of Cincinnati
OP-22: Rainwater Management

The green strategies include over 40 acres of tributary drainage area that include the physical characteristics for collection, movement, and infiltration of storm water. The system is a highly specialized series of landforms, bio-infiltration corridors that provide both function and aesthetic. In addition, an expansive connection of permeability in pavement and softscape promote water penetration and irrigation without discharge to the combined or storm water sewer system. Additionally, UC has a series of underground retention basins to hold water and slow its release during heavy rain events, in the pursuit of reducing UC's contribution to Combined Sewer Overflow events.

UC also has two extensive green roof systems and an intensive green roof that was recently installed on the Lindner College of Business. Green infrastructure in the form of bioswales also exists on campus in the Teacher Dyers Courtyard, on the western facade of the Lindner College of Business, and in the parking lot of the 1819 Innovation Hub.

The University of Cincinnati has comprehensive policies, plans and guidelines that cover the entire campus, and include strategies (both green and gray) along with low impact development practices for new construction, major renovations, and development projects. Analysis and strategies are contained in (3) storm water master plan documents. The aforementioned documents have become the institutional requisite for conceptual investigation and construction initiatives on the University of Cincinnati's Uptown campus. They conform specifically to a geographical area and its accompanying infrastructural influences, moreover, they are the recommended /preferred strategies promoted in the master planning process and thereby embraced as University standards.

There are (3) critical documents that establish the University of Cincinnati's position and practices related to resourceful management of storm water. This includes the Green Demonstration Project Conceptual Plan, which uses GIS inventory and analysis of existing conditions and site reconnaissance to identify opportunities for reducing the volume of storm water run-off entering the Metropolitan Sewer Districts combined sewer system. The strategies include both green and gray controls. The green structural controls are comprised of bio-infiltration / detention, site specific BMP's, and reforestation initiatives. The gray structural controls include off-loading, strategic separation, and underground storage. The second document is the University's Enabled Impact Project that was collaboratively developed between the University of Cincinnati and the City's Metropolitan Sewer District. This document features a combination of green and gray controls, along with water treatment / filtration methodologies that promote the harvest, bio-infiltration, storage, conveyance, and recycling of over 50,000,000 gallons of storm water that would be diverted from the combined sewer system. The third, and most recently published document, is the East Campus Storm Water Opportunities Plan, that includes an analysis along with strategic recommendations for expanding the permeability and re-use of storm water on the University's East Campus complex (a 65 acre section of the total Uptown Campus) Principle strategies include bio-retention, permeable pavement, and storage.