Our campus impact on the
environment: Storm water concern
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. Stormwater runoff is one area that can have a wide impact – on campus and eventually nearby creeks that flow into the South Platte River.
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground without sinking in. Impervious surfaces like parking lots prevent the stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. As stormwater runoff flows over pedestrian walkways, landscaped areas, roadways and parking lots, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants. Stormwater 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 Ave. 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 waterbodies 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 stormwater 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 stormwater 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, meltsBy practicing healthy pollution prevention habits, campus users can keep pollutants like 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.
There will be an upcoming public meeting to discuss stormwater issues related to our campus and to accept comment on improvement suggestions.
The meeting will be held in Bldg 500 at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora on Monday, March 5, 2007 at 10:00 AM, Room #N2221. Please call Scott Roen at 303-724-1103 for more information or e-mail scott.roen@uchsc.edu to obtain agenda topics or to express any comments you may have on the subject of stormwater pollution.
