The UMD Health Sciences Facility III Project stood out for its ability to overcome significant and challenging site constraints to effectively and creatively manage and treat stormwater runoff on-site rather than through offsite mitigation. The project used several different BMPs within a series, and is noted for its creative reuse of captured stormwater runoff. Three separate intensive green roof areas are stacked with ground plane lawn and landscape areas within the plaza, providing water quality treatment for the site. Additionally, a 71,000-gallon cistern below the plaza collects both roof and surface runoff. Runoff directed to the cistern flows through a cartridge filter pre-treatment chamber before siphoning into the main storage vault. Harvested storm runoff collected in the cistern is withdrawn and passed through another active filtration system on its way to reuse as cooling tower makeup water. The cistern reduces the volume of potable water needed for cooling and dramatically lowers the volume of stormwater released from the site. Taken together with the green roofs and landscaping, the combination of systems also improves the quality of any runoff that may be released from the site.
