Our campus impact on the environment:
Storm water
concern
By Scott Roen
CSA Facilities Operations
The university community includes students, faculty, medical researchers, staff,
and patients who may not always be aware of their potential impact on the campus
environment, including surrounding areas. Storm water runoff is one area that
can have a wide impact – on campus and eventually nearby creeks that
flow into the South Platte River.
| There will be a public meeting to discuss storm water issues related to our campus and to accept comment on improvement suggestions. The meeting will be held in Building 500 at the Fitzsimons campus on Monday, April 3, at 10 a.m., in Room #N2221. Please call Scott Roen at 303-724-1103 for more information or email him at scott.roen@uchsc.edu to obtain agenda topics or to express any comments you may have on the subject of storm water pollution. |
Storm water runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows
over the ground without sinking in. Impervious surfaces, such as parking
lots, prevent the storm water from naturally soaking into the ground. As
storm water runoff flows over pedestrian walkways, landscaped areas, roadways
and parking lots, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants.
Storm water flows into storm sewer collection drains that flow directly
to river systems such as Tollgate Creek and/or Sand Creek that eventually
flow to the Platte River. At the Ninth Avenue campus, all storm sewer drains
flow through Denver wastewater piping directly to the Platte River.
It is important to remember, anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged
untreated into bodies of water that are used for recreation and eventual drinking
water. Polluted runoff is the nation’s greatest threat to clean water.
The resulting stream or river pollution can have a great effect on the aquatic
life in the body of water.
Specific areas of storm water pollution include:
Sediment generated
by construction activities that can be washed into the storm sewer system
Construction
waste and litter that can be washed into the storm sewer system if
not picked up on a regular basis
Improper
disposal of liquids such as cleaning solutions, laboratory chemicals,
or other liquid wastes that can leak out of solid waste containers
and drain with storm water into the storm sewer system
Chemicals
that may spill as a result of accidents during loading or unloading
at shipping and receiving locations and/or spills of fuel that can
occur during the filling of equipment at storage tanks
Fertilizers
and pesticides used in maintaining the landscaped grounds during
the summer months may adversely affect water quality if application
rates and timing of applications are inappropriate or if spills of
these chemicals occur and are not properly contained and cleaned
up
Deicer
chemicals, salt, and sand used on the streets and parking areas during
the winter months may be carried to the storm sewer system when snow,
accumulated in piles during routine snow removal activities, melts
By practicing healthy pollution prevention habits, campus users can keep pollutants
such as dirt and common garbage that collect on paved areas from being washed
into storm drains. If you observe pollution concerns that you believe need
attention (outside of a fenced construction zone which are under a different
regulator permit), you may call Facilities Operations Dispatch at 303-315-7941
or do your part by helping to pick up trash in outdoor areas and make sure
it is properly disposed in nearby trash receptacles – especially keep
trash away from around storm drains.
