Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants such as oils, plastics, chemicals, and lawn fertilizers directly to streams and rivers, where they harm water quality. To protect surface water quality and groundwater resources, Rutgers University maintains a comprehensive stormwater pollution prevention program to minimize our impact to the surrounding environment.
The university stormwater program includes implementing green building practices, cleaning and maintaining storm drains and basins, conducting litter patrols of our grounds, conducting routine street sweeping of our roads and parking lots, properly managing and limiting the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and implementing Best Management Practices at our maintenance yards and storage facilities.
You may have noticed some of our most recent enhancements around campus, including:
- The creation of artificial wetlands, planting of vegetation, and installation of a biofiltration system on the Livingston Campus near Beck Hall
- Creation of naturalized meadow areas that save energy, reduce pollution, and cut down on the use of fertilizers
- Aeration of Passion Puddle (Cook campus) to improve water quality and prevent fish kills
- Upgrade of storm drain inlets to prevent and reduce the amount of litter entering the waterways
- In addition to these efforts, we continue to: clean and maintain our storm drains and basins; conduct litter patrols of our grounds; conduct routine street sweeping of our roads and parking lots; and properly manage and limit the use pesticides and fertilizers.
Rutgers University Institutional Planning and Operations Stormwater Fast Facts:
- More than 2,200 miles of roads and parking lots swept
- 1,283 cubic feet of waste collected from street sweeping
- 2,364 stormwater catch basin inspections completed
- 547 stormwater catch basins cleaned of waste
- 66 stormwater inlets repaired
A required element of our program is to provide annual educational information to the University community on what you can do to help protect our water, both at the University and at home. You can help by:
- Limiting your use of fertilizers and pesticides
- Properly disposing of hazardous waste through your city, town or municipality
- Cleaning up after your pets
- Volunteering during community clean up days
- Placing litter in proper trash receptacles
- Properly managing yard waste (composting, recycling grass clippings on lawns)
- Not feeding wildlife, such as ducks and geese, in public areas
- Properly maintaining and washing your vehicle
- Avoiding dumping anything down storm drains
For additional information of stormwater management at the University, please visit: Stormwater Management | Institutional Planning and Operations (rutgers.edu)
For additional information on the DEP Stormwater Management Website, visit: Stormwater Website for Stormwater Management Professionals and Permittees. NJDEP New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection