Stormwater Project: Green Infrastructure

By: Erin McNally, David Druze, and Kelley Kralik

Environmental Pollution and Regulation (ENVL 3241)

Fall 2020

Stockton University

Environmental Science and Geology Program

Instructor: Dr. Tait Chirenje

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Table of Contents:

1.0 Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2

2.0 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 2

3.0 Green Infrastructure and Stockton University ……………………………………...… 4

4.0 Our Plan …………………………………………………………………………...….. 5

4.1 Reduce Stormwater Runoff ………………………………………………..…. 5

4.2 Prevent Flooding ………………………………………………………………6

4.3 Reduce Water Pollution ……………………………………………………….7

4.4 Increase Recharge ……………………………………………………………..8

5.0 Long Term Benefits ………………………………………………………………….. 9

6.0 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………12

References ………………………………………………………………………………...13
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1.0 Abstract:

During a storm, water that reaches the ground either ends up lost by evapotranspiration,

penetrates into the root system or ends up as stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff flows off flat

surfaces and rooftops picking up all pollutants and sediments on its journey to the sewer system,

and eventually into our local water bodies. As Stockton continues to grow its mission statement,

and work with local organizations to improve its environmental issues by minimizing stormwater

runoff, the University will continue on their quest to make the campus environmentally friendly.

This includes protecting local bodies of water, and preserving the natural land around the

campus. Local Green Infrastructure can aid in protecting and treating stormwater runoff, and

implementing a future plan can help reduce the environmental hazards the campus may face in

the future.

2.0 Introduction:

Stormwater is an ever growing problem on Stockton University’s campus. With harsher

and more intense rain storms due to climate change, it has caused the University to take action

and implement a stormwater plan. Within this plan, there are several acts to educate the

community about stormwater, and most importantly, develop Green Infrastructure on campus to

deal heavily with stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff is a problem that is not going away, and

it is a large contributor to pollution. There are ways to adapt to these environmental issues and

Green infrastructure is one of them.

What exactly is Green infrastructure? This term can encompass a lot of management

practices. Green infrastructure is an approach to water management that resembles the water

cycle by incorporating natural environment and engineered systems to conserve ecosystem

values and functions (american rivers). Section 502 of the clean water act describes Green
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Infrastructure as "...the range of measures that use plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or

other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store,

infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce flows to sewer systems or to surface waters

(EPA)." There are many benefits to the green approach. It is cost effective, and can be applied

on different scales, from small to large. These types of investments can boost the economy and

provide healthier conditions for the environment by removing some of the pollutants from water

before it recharges the aquifer. Stormwater runoff can create a lot of pollution within urban areas

by falling off roofs, sidewalks, and flat surfaces right into sewers and water bodies. Some of

these flat surfaces can be changed into types of green infrastructure that would best fit the

community. For instance, green implementations like bioretention systems, planter boxes, green

roofs, vegetation channels and permeable pavement are all examples of proactive ways to

minimize stormwater runoff. These actions can be talked about and implemented before

development of the campus moves forward.

The plan moving forward involves water efficiency, and in the end, nature does best at its

job. Natural flood protection is the safest and most efficient flood protection. This includes

Floodplains, wetlands and forests. It is the University's job to protect and preserve these services

to maintain quality of water as they are important components of green infrastructure. These

services help treat stormwater at its source while providing economic and environmental benefits

(EPA). Green Infrastructure can be weaved into future plans as Stockton moves forward and it is

our job as students to come up with ideas and implement a plan of action. Environmental issues

like stormwater and pollution depend upon infrastructure that is dependable, cost-effective, tough

and inventive. Within the future, Green infrastructure will provide the backbone for preventing

the campus’ environmental issues.

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3.0 Green Infrastructure and Stockton University:

At Stockton University, green infrastructure and stormwater management is part of the

Universities overall mission. The University is continually working with the New Jersey

Pinelands Commission and Atlantic County to implement best management practices and use of

low-maintenance landscaping to restore campus streams and lakes and reduce stormwater and

nutrient runoff (Stockton). Stockton University also must comply with New Jersey’s “No Net

loss” policy by replanting any trees that might have been removed during a building process. It

is Stockton’s goal to work with leaders of the community and make them aware of the future

consequences of emerging threats to the ecosystem, and stormwater is high on the list. The

University has implemented several practices to help reduce the production of stormwater. This

includes stormwater basins, rain gardens, eco-buildings and no mow areas on campus. Areas

that favor vegetation like rain gardens and no-mow areas will have the largest impact on

stormwater by at least 40% (Schroll). This is because the water has nowhere to escape, but right

back into the ground. The campus center is included in the “eco building” facilities and was

given a Gold Certification for their progress. The building’s energy use is 30% below standard

development, and 40% below water use standard (Stockton). These statistics are so high because

of the implementation of refillable water bottle stations, and dual-flush toilets which drastically

cuts down water usage. The university also took the extra step to install an artificial turf athletic

field at the Pomona sports complex. This cutting edge technology was built to retain stormwater

and infiltrate it back down to the aquifer. Synthetic turf is known to eliminate the use of harsh

pesticides and fertilizers, in turn reducing the amount of pollution runoff being drawn back to the

aquifer.
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Stockton is taking the initiative to deal with stormwater management by having

developed a stormwater prevention team. Not only is the faculty involved, but the students as

well. The students at Stockton are involved heavily through the best management practices here

at the school. This includes Forest Management and on-campus projects. For example, the

students wanting to help the biodiversity committee collected a pound of cigarette butts on

campus over a two week period. Later, they partnered with the garden committee to plant

flowers and indigenous plants within their place. Stockton also encourages students and

members of the University to look over the stormwater program, and follow these five simple

steps to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff:

1. Do not litter

2. Keep pollution out of storm drains

3. No pets on campus

4. Do not feed wildlife

5. Properly dispose of hazardous products

Stockton has made some overall impressive improvements to their infrastructure to ensure they

are staying green. As students and stewards of the environment, it is our job to get involved and

help maintain and learn about the possible threats and adaptations to stormwater. Green

infrastructure is a true management practice, and will only push Stockton in the front of the pack

when stormwater becomes an unfixable issue for many.

4.0 Our Plan:

4.1 Reduce Stormwater Runoff:

Stormwater runoff is when rain and snow events do not soak into the ground, but instead

flow into the storm drains, water ways, or just sit on the ground creating a flood (Stormwater
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Infrastructure, n.d.). At Stockton University, there are many rooftops and other impervious

surfaces that let the precipitation just runoff. The problem with stormwater runoff is that it

creates floods, causes water pollution, and does not help recharge the groundwater. There are

different ways that Stockton could incorporate new places to help with the problem of runoff.

The first is to add green roofing to the housing and academic buildings on campus. Green

roofing is incorporating vegetation onto the roofs, which are impervious surfaces (What is Green

Infrastructure, 2020). The vegetation will increase the infiltration of rainwater. The precipitation

can help the plants grow and decrease runoff from the roofs, which could transport pollutants

into the soil or streams around the area (G, 2017). Another way that Stockton could improve

stormwater runoff is to try rain harvesting. This incorporates barrels that collect the rain or snow

precipitation to have more access to water. The barrels help reduce runoff by collecting more of

the precipitation so it does not go onto impervious surfaces (G, 2017). This water can also be

used at other areas on campus. For example, it could be used to water the plants or any other

water use that does not involve drinking water. There are all different types and sizes of rain

barrels, and adding them to Stockton can help with the runoff issue (Stormwater Infrastructure,

n.d.). Another idea for green infrastructure is to add a dry pond near the campus. A dry pond is a

grassy depression that holds water following a storm (G, 2017). This water goes down the hill

and will infiltrate the groundwater. This helps keep the water in one place rather than the

stormwater runoff just sitting on impervious surfaces. Reducing stormwater runoff is a technique

that Stockton University can use to help the environment.

4.2 Prevent Flooding:

If there is an increased amount of runoff, then flooding can potentially occur. At Stockton

University, we have incorporated a permeability structure, which is one of our parking lots, to
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help with the issue of flooding (Stormwater Infrastructure, n.d.). The addition of permeable

pavements could greatly reduce flooding, especially in the housing area of campus, which is

where many floods happen if there is a lot of rain. Permeability structures can be in concrete and

asphalt areas, so by adding this special structure, rainwater can infiltrate and be stored more

efficiently (What is Green Infrastructure, 2020). Another way that can help with the problem of

flooding is a rain garden. These are already incorporated onto the main campus, but these

additions could be added near the housing complexes to help reduce flooding near those

buildings. Rain gardens collect and absorb rainwater runoff from rooftops, sidewalks, and

parking lots (What is Green Infrastructure, 2020). Rain gardens practice natural hydrology

through infiltration and evapotranspiration of stormwater (G, 2017). Planter boxes, which are

more like urbanized rain gardens, could also be added to the parking lots to help stop the

flooding in that area (G,2017). These boxes also collect and absorb rainwater and ideal for

limited space sites. On campus, there is an issue with flooding, so these ideas could help fix the

problem.

4.3 Reduce Water Pollution:

Water pollution can be trash, bacteria, heavy metals, and other contaminants in our

waterways. When there is precipitation and any of these pollutants on the ground, the runoff

from the storm can move this causing problems to either our drinking water or streams and rivers

nearby. The runoff of water can also cause erosion, which would pollute our waters with

sediment or other contaminants. A way that Stockton University could help with solving the

issue of water pollution is changing the landscape practices (What is Green Infrastructure, 2020).

This includes using fertilizer, which can cause algal blooms in our waterways if there is

stormwater runoff. Irrigation of the land and vegetation can also cause problems like raising the
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salinity levels in the water or helping spread water diseases. These problems can end up in our

waterways if the landscaping practices are not healthy for the environment. This could raise the

level of pollution in the runoff, which could ultimately raise the levels in the groundwater.

Instead of using fertilizer for the vegetation, Stockton could incorporate bioswales into campus.

Bioswale is a vegetated mulch that provides treatment and retention as stormwater moves

through the mulch (G, 2017). Bioswales help slow the movement of water, while also filtering

the water. Another is known as filter strips. These are gently sloped planted strips of grass or

dense vegetation that can filter runoff because it goes back into the groundwater (G, 2017).

Water pollution is an alarming issue that comes with climate change, so practicing these methods

can help decrease the probability of Stockton having polluted water.

4.4 Increase Recharge:

Stockton University receives its drinking water from two underground wells located on

campus that go through the treatment system (Annual Drinking Water Quality Report Stockton

University, 2017). If the recharge of these wells is decreasing while the use of water is

increasing, the water in the wells could run out in some time. By increasing the recharge rate of

these two wells, the water will continue to flow through campus and we will not have to worry

about running out of water. Green infrastructure that could help with increasing the rate are

bioretention systems. This includes rain gardens, vegetation strips, and stormwater planters.

Bioretention systems are when stormwater flows through vegetation instead of right into the

stream (What is Green Infrastructure, 2020). If the water flows into the vegetation, this would

lead to water going into the wells, rather than the water going into the waterways and moving

somewhere else. Another bioretention system is known as downspout disconnection. This is

when stormwater is rerouted using rooftop drainage pipes, but instead of going into the storm
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drain, it can be rerouted to permeable areas, which can increase the recharge rate (G, 2017). With

all the runoff water being redirected into areas where it will infiltrate into the groundwater, this

will increase the recharge rate of the two wells.

5.0 Long Term Benefits:

Stockton University is currently implementing many ways to reduce the harmful effects

of stormwater runoff being left untreated. By installing various forms of green infrastructure, the

campus can manipulate where the water goes and how it re-enters the environment. By managing

the storm water, we can reduce erosion, reduce water pollution, increase water infiltration and

groundwater recharge and help prevent flooding. Along with positive environmental impacts,

there are also economic and social benefits to properly managing stormwater runoff (EPA,

2020a).

As pollutants and trash are moved into nearby habitats and water bodies, wildlife become

at risk from changing water properties or from the physical threats trash present to wildlife. Not

only does trash take away from the aesthetics of a clean wildlife habitat, it can also pose serious

threats to wildlife. Animals can commonly mistake trash as food or materials for nesting. If the

organism is unfortunate enough, they may ingest or become entangled in the trash, which may

cause serious injury, reduced life quality, or death. Reducing the amount of trash or physical

pollutants that enter these habitats can greatly improve the quality of life for the organisms that

live there.

Along with physical pollutants that enter wildlife areas, there are many chemical and

biological pollutants that may not be visible to the untrained eye. Sediments, human waste,

industrial waste, nutrients and fertilizers, and hazardous wastes may be entering various

environments without anyone knowing (Groundwater Protection Council, 2012). Sediments

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transported by runoff may clog rivers and streams causing their water level to rise, thus creating

the potential to flood developed areas. Pollutants like human, animal, industrial and hazardous

waste can enter a water body by being carried by the flow of the runoff. These pollutants can

poison plant and animal species directly from exposure or create other issues as a result of their

presence. Nutrients and fertilizers from agricultural fields, or human and animal waste high in

nitrogen may enter a water body via runoff. Once the high nitrogen containing material enters the

environment, animal life may be lost due to the depletion of oxygen from increased biological

activity in the water body.

Along with the transportation and introduction of these harmful pollutants, the

opportunity to recharge groundwater systems with the storm is virtually missed. According to the

EPA, one of the easiest ways to mitigate storm water is to “slow it down, spread it out, and soak

it up” (EPA, 2020b). This will keep the water on-site, allowing the water to naturally percolate

down into the underlying aquifer or groundwater system. The process of percolation naturally

filters out any contaminants that are being held by the water. Once the water percolates through

the soil profile, all contaminants should have been removed by the sediment above, allowing the

aquifer or water body to be recharged with clean, uncontaminated water that is safe for human

consumption.

Allowing the water to naturally absorb into the ground will also help facilitate proper and

adequate plant growth. This can help increase climate resiliency. The increased water penetration

from storms can contribute to full canopy cover. A full canopy can help reduce temperatures

around the campus, which in-turn reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the surrounding

buildings. The canopy can also reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the soil surface,

reducing the risk of drought.

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The benefits of reducing the amount of stormwater runoff are not only limited to

environmental factors. There are also many social and economic aspects that stormwater

management can benefit. As Stockton university continues to spread out and the footprint

becomes larger, more and more green infrastructure will be needed. This can create many jobs in

the planning, construction and maintenance phases of these projects. Students in many different

fields at Stockton may be presented with the career benefits that green infrastructure can bring to

the table. Quality of life is another aspect that can benefit from the management of stormwater.

By installing and adding the proper structures, inconvenient flooding can be reduced, the number

of outdoor recreational areas can be increased, and property values of surrounding areas can also

increase. This can also promote positive human health with more opportunities for physical

exercise and improve student and residential mental well-being by providing more green spaces.

As stormwater management becomes a more important subject, introducing green

infrastructures into all levels of planning and construction across campus can provide the

University with many benefits. These green structures can increase air and water quality,

facilitate a resilient climate, and recharge groundwater systems with properly filtered and clean

water safe for consumption. In the process of implementing these practices, many jobs can be

created, costs of building and energy use can be reduced, and habitat quality can be maintained

or increased by limiting pollutants and trash that make their way into the surrounding

ecosystems. Humans can also benefit from the increased quality of life by having more green

spaces to spend time in, as well as experience a more stable climate with reduced risk of

flooding.

6.0 Conclusion

Each year an average 42 inches of rain falls in Galloway township. Acros Stockton’s
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1,600 acres, the campus will see approximately 1,824,768,000 gallons of total rainfall, enough

rain water to fill nearly 2,765 olympic sized swimming pools. As climate change continues to

pose a threat to many ecosystems and habitats across the planet, it becomes increasingly for

Stockton to implement as many green infrastructure projects as possible.

As Stockton continues to expand, the addition and maintenance of green infrastructure

can provide the campus with many benefits and opportunities. Green roofing and other

permeable surfaces, combined with the addition of rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, drainage

basins, and reducing the amount of trash or litter across campus can have many positive impacts

on reducing the amount of stormwater run-off, flood prevention, reduced water pollution, and

increase the amount of groundwater recharge. Along with these environmental benefits, more

jobs can be created, physical and mental well being can be increased with the addition of more

green spaces for students and faculty to exercise, property values in the area can increase, and the

University can take pride in its litter free, environmentally friendly campus.
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References

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report Stockton University. (2017). Retrieved from

https://stockton.edu/facilities-construction/2017documents/annual-drinking-water-report.

pdf

EPA. (2020a, May 28). Benefits of Green Infrastructure. Retrieved from

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/benefits-green-infrastructure#communities

EPA. (2020b, November 24). Soak Up the Rain: What’s the Problem? Retrieved from

https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-whats-problem

G. (2017, June). A Green Infrastructure Guide for Small Cities, Towns, and Rural Communities.

Retrieved from

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/greenbelt/pages/5202/attachments/original/15040

21812/Green_Infrastructure_Final.pdf?1504021812

Groundwater Protection Council. (2012). Stormwater | Groundwater Protection Council.

Retrieved from http://www.gwpc.org/programs/water-quality/stormwater

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://stockton.edu/facilities-construction/biodiversity.html

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://stockton.edu/facilities-construction/water-usage.html

(n.d.). Retrieved from

https://stockton.edu/facilities-construction/biodiversity-committee-student-projects.html

Schroll, E., Lambrinos, J., Righetti, T., & Sandrock, D. (2011, February 01). The role of

vegetation in regulating stormwater runoff from green roofs in a winter rainfall climate.

Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925857410003551

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Stormwater Infrastructure. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://stocktonstormwater.weebly.com/stormwater-infrastructure.html

What is Green Infrastructure? (2019, October 30). Retrieved from

https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/clean-water/green-infrastructure/what-is-

green-infrastructure/

What is Green Infrastructure? (2020, November 02). Retrieved from

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-infrastructure