Land & Water Use

Greenhouse Bioremediation Wetlands

Water is valuable resource, especially in the semi-arid west. As a result, the University is committed to conserving water and has been actively researching state of the art ways to accomplish this goal.

Since 1996, potable water use has decreased by 30%, despite a university enrollment increase of 14% and building square footage increase of over 12%.

Stormwater Management

With every storm and snowmelt event, thousands of gallons of water enter CSU's storm drains and flow to the Cache La Poudre River and Spring Creek. Pollutants such as pesticides, oil, metals, sediment, and animal waste can be picked up and carried by the water. Stormwater pollution can come from incidental deposits of dust and oil on parking lots which are washed off with rain and snowmelt; but pollution also comes from outdoor washing activities, intentional dumping and accidental spills of chemicals. Environmental regulations are in place to minimize stormwater contamination and address the nature and extent of "nonpoint source" pollution. The regulations are aimed at protecting rivers and lakes from pollutants and sediments that can harm aquatic organisms including insects and fish. Certain species of fish are more sensitive to metal contaminants than humans, for example we can tolerate silver in our drinking water at concentrations of up to 0.1 mg/L, but this concentration in a river can be lethal to fish.

It is our job to watch for and reduce the potential for stormwater pollution from CSU's campuses. Check the media gallery page for images of stormwater maintenance and cleanup procedures.

What is CSU Doing to Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

CSU has a stormwater permit Adobe Reader Document (PDF), called an "MS4 Program", that describes what measures we must take and what we plan to do to minimize stormwater pollution. It is structured with six "Minimum Measures", each of which has multiple goals and requirements. CSU's MS4 Program document Adobe Reader Document (PDF) is also available for review.

We attempt to control stormwater pollution by using a variety of techniques and strategies. The following are a few examples of actions we have taken to minimize stormwater pollution:

What Can I Do to Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

Here are a few healthy household habits that you can do to help clean up the water bodies around Fort Collins:

Remember, any pollutant you place or see on the ground will eventually end up in our rivers, creeks, and lakes. Keep this in mind next time you go swimming, kayaking, or tubing down the Poudre River!! If you observe someone illegally discharging wastes around CSU please report the incident to CSU Facilities Dispatch at 970-491-0077.

Fort Collins Utilities Drinking Water Quality Report

Each year, the City of Fort Collins is required by law to deliver to its customers a report on the quality of the drinking water it provides. To see complete results of the most recent quality testing, please see the full Fort Collins Utilities Drinking Water Quality Report Adobe Reader Document (PDF).

Bioremediation Wetland Projects

With three wetland projects in total, the Colorado State University Wetlands Project was developed to serve a number of purposes related to water bioremediation and conservation. Each Wetlands Project provides a learning experience, while exhibiting sound environmental practices.

Locations include a one-quarter acre site at the Equine Center of Foothills Campus. Another is located on Main Campus, just east of the University Greenhouses.

The Problem

The University Greenhouses discharge between 0 and 1,000 gallons of waste water each day. The waste water is runoff from greenhouse operations and contains chemical fertilizers and synthetic compounds, such as fungicides.

Greenhouse Water Remediation Process

Goals

The Wetlands Project was set forth with the following goals in place:

Refer to the Greenhouse Water Remediation Garden Adobe Reader Document (PDF) document to see the goals & process in more detail.

The Design Premise

The resulting space should be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Bioremediation occurs through a linear system with three distinct components:

Greenhouse Bioremediation Wetlands

How is the Water Remediated?

The plants in the system provide the niche for bacteria to flourish and utilize nutrients and bind or precipitate metals.

The Design Process

Non-linear

The further we went in the design process the more we learned and the more that knowledge informed the design.

Ongoing

Inputs from the Greenhouses are different from anticipated, and how the system works is different than anticipated. Adjustments to the system will continue to be made.

Irrigation Water

Heron in Water Conservation Garden

Water Conservation Garden Information

The Water Conservation Demonstration Garden is part of the Wetlands Project on the east side of the University Greenhouses and serves as a working demonstration of both the remediation of waste water from a commercial use and the use of the reclaimed water in a water conserving landscape.

The University Greenhouses on the Colorado State University Main Campus include 27,000 square feet of new growing area for research. Irrigation water that is not directly used in the production and cultivation of plants in the University Greenhouses runs into a series of floor drains and is discharged to the east of the Greenhouse. This run-off water, which can be discharged at rates as much as 1,000 gallons per day, contains fertilizer and fungicide residue not appropriate to discharge into either the storm or sanitary system.

The remediation of the irrigation waste water is being accomplished by a series of biological treatments constructed on an 11,000 square foot site immediately east of the Greenhouse. The three stages of the remediation include an 800 square foot bog, 1,000 square foot pond with a re-circulating water feature and a bioretention trench. Water which has been "cleaned" through the bog and pond treatments will be applied via a drip irrigation system to a water conservation demonstration garden.

The initial phase of the project was constructed in the Spring and Summer of 2003 with equipment and funding provided by Colorado State University Facilities Management, and design and labor provided by undergraduate students in the Landscape Design and Construction program.

Colorado Canyon

Colorado Canyon

The Colorado Canyon, located in between the Engineering Buildings and the north end of the Lory Student Center, is an example of landscaping with water conservation in mind. Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local environment are emphasized.

Autoclaves

Autoclaves are devices that use steam to sterilize equipment. In order to reduce the amount of water used, Colorado State installed 41 water-saver kits, which monitor the temperature of the drain line and only inject cold water when needed. These devices are anticipated to save the University over $61,000 and conserve more than seventeen million gallons of water per year.

Refrigeration Equipment

In many of the housing units on campus, the refrigeration equipment used for walk-in coolers in the kitchen was cooled with tap water that was then sent down the drain. Many of these systems were converted to air-cooled compressors and have saved the University over 17.5 million gallons of water and $62,000 each year.

Irrigation

Approximately 95% of Colorado State University's irrigation water is raw water, rather than water treated to human drinking standards. The annual cost avoidance by not using treated tap water is about $250,000. A computerized irrigation control system allows sprinkler schedules to be set from a centralized location – this helps prevent over-watering and thus, conserves water.

Recycled Mulch

Tree prunings are chipped and then recycled into mulch. In an average year, this produces approximately 2,000 cubic yards of mulch.

Outdoor Pest Control

Wherever possible, the preferred method for use is biological controls or natural substances for controlling pests, plant diseases, and weeds on campus.