Water

Portland State University is actively engaged in efforts to conserve and manage water on both systems-wide and local levels. To address the former, the PSU Sustainability Office has developed a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan that outlines ways in which various types of stormwater are to be handled. Steps are also being taken to manage and conserve water at clearly defined locations throughout the campus.

In recognition of its commitment to stormwater management PSU was recently awarded the prestigious Salmon Safe Campus Certification, becoming the first institution of higher education to do so. This award speaks to the dedication of PSU community members across all sectors - landscaping, custodial, maintenance; students, faculty, staff, and administrators - who have resolved to minimize their use of harmful pesticides and other chemicals in favor of least-toxic pest control, cleaning, and general use products. A systems-wide approach to water conservation and management may not be as flashy as rainwater harvesting or waterless urinals, but it does reflect a growing commitment to sustainable practices at the organizational and community levels.

In addition to its Stormwater Management Policy, Portland State University proudly maintains many innovative water conserving features in an effort to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of campus operations and resource consumption. These features include low-flow toilets, shower heads & faucet fixtures, as well as bioswales, flow-through planters, ecoroofs & rooftop gardens, and native plants gardens.

Water conservation features? Here at PSU, we are swimming in them!

Epler Hall Rainwater Harvesting System

PSU's Epler Hall is a mixed-use LEED Silver building featuring an innovative rainwater harvesting system that diverts 26% of stormwater from Epler and the neighboring King Albert Hall. Rain that collects on the buildings' rooftops is directed to several disconnected downspouts that empty into raised river rock beds located in a public plaza. Water flows through the plaza via a series of planter boxes and carved stone channels, emptying finally into underground retention tanks. The water is filtered through a sand trap and treated using ultraviolet light before being pumped back into Epler for use as flush water in first floor restrooms and landscape irrigation. This system reduces the building's annual demand for municipally treated potable water by approximately 110,000 gallons/year, saving the University nearly $1,000/year in wastewater expenses. PSU was awarded a 2005 BEST Award for its innovative Epler rainwater harvesting system.

Engineering Building Hydrology Lab

Portland State University's newest building, the Northwest Center for Engineering, Science and Technology, is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system that uses Oregon's average 38" of annual rainfall to supplement the building's overall water demand. The system captures rain from the rooftop and diverts a portion through the rainwater harvesting system located in the hydrology lab on the 2nd floor. The water is stored in a 1000 gallon storage tank, filtered through carbon, and undergoes UV sterilization before being pumped to toilets and urinals on the 1st floor. In addition to conserving flush water and reducing rainwater runoff, this system also contributes to the university's engineering curriculum. Students use the rainwater harvesting system to study water usage rates, savings, filtration methods, and other aspects in an effort to advance this technology.

12th Street Bioswales

In Summer 2005, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services installed a series of four bioswales a half block north of Epler Hall on SW 12th Street. Part of BES's Green Streets Program, the 12th Street Bioswales represent an exciting trend in stormwater management. As rainwater hits the paved roads and sidewalks on SW 12th - collecting oil, sediments, exhaust, dirt, chemicals, etc - it is directed to gutters which channel the dirty water into the bioswales. Each swale is essentially an enclosed planter box containing soil and wetland plants. Water that enters a swale is absorbed into the soil and taken up by the plants. This serves two primary functions; first, it limits the rate at which water enters Portland's Combined Sewer system, effectively reducing the risk of flooding that often plagues the system. The second benefit of this type of bioswale system is water purification. When one swale begins to fill and overflow, excess water leaves the swale and is channeled into the next swale, and so on until the fourth swale fills (this generally occurs only during heavy sustained rainfall). Throughout this process the water is filtered by both the soil and plants, which absorb many of the pollutants carried in the water. When water leaves the fourth swale it goes directly into a storm drain, cleaner than before! The 12th Street Green Street was awarded a 2006 Professional Award of Honor by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Ecoroofs

What's big and green and lives on a roof? Ecoroofs are an aesthetically pleasing way to beef up the lifespan of a roof, reduce building stormwater runoff, and reduce energy consumption by mitigating rooftop heat loss in cold weather and maintaining cooler indoor temperatures during the warmer months. Portland State University is home to five ecoroofs, running the gamut from big to small, manicured to wild. The Broadway Housing Building sports an 18,000 sq. ft. ecoroof (the largest in Portland!), the Native American Student Center features a native plants rooftop garden, and three small ecoroofs are located between Smith Center and Neuberger Hall atop a community gathering space, cob oven, and informational kiosk, respectively. PSU was awarded a 2005 BEST Award for the Broadway Housing Building's ecoroof.

Fixtures and Faucets

Portland State University has taken strides in recent years to address excess water consumption resulting from inefficient faucets, fixtures and toilets. Many campus buildings, including University Place Hotel, Broadway Housing Building, Epler Hall, and the Northwest Center for Engineering, Science and Technology, feature low-flow faucets and showerhead fixtures, in addition to double-flush toilets (which use different amounts of water based on user preference) and waterless urinals. These technologies require considerably less water than typical fixtures and toilets, resulting in resource and monetary savings for Portland State University, its tenants, and students.