Skip to Content

Stormwater Management

Parking and Transportation

The University of Virginia owns and maintains its own small municipal separate storm sewer system (small MS4). The MS4 is comprised of all of the interconnected storm sewer pipes on grounds. UVa's MS4 discharges into Meadow Creek, tributaries to Moore's creek, and in some cases, into the City of Charlottesville's storm sewer system.


A bus ready to be washed in the bus washing station at Parking and Transportation. A valved drainage systems allows the facility operator to direct the wash water discharge to an oil-water separator that then drains to the sanitary sewer. During other times, runoff is directed to the storm sewer.

In 1995, EPA published the final notice for Phase I of the Multi-Sector General Storm Water Permit Program. The program included the requirement of the permitting of stormwater discharges and the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) by each industrial facility discharging storm water, including transportation terminals where vehicle maintenance and fueling activities were conducted. In order to comply with this program, a SWPPP was created for the University’s Parking and Transportation Facility on Millmont Street.

The SWPPP provides P&T with a way of monitoring their activities in order to ensure that any accidental spills at the facility do not enter the storm sewer. The storm sewer on site drains to Meadow Creek while other drains onsite discharge to the sanitary sewer which heads to a plant for treatment. The plan aims to ensure that if a discharge were to occur, any spilled material would be directed to the sanitary sewer where it would not pollute surface waterways.

All drains inside the vehicle maintenance buildings and bus washing areas drain to the sanitary sewer via an oil water separator. The oil water separator treats the water on site before sending the water to the water treatment plant for further treatment. An oil water separator is also installed in the drain in the bus parking area. This oil water separator removes any oil that may have dripped from the busses when not in service. The separator then discharges the clean water to the storm sewer.

In addition to the oil water separators, secondary containment devices such as berms around fueling areas and storage containers are in place to contain any spill. Recently, canopies were installed over the vehicle fueling areas to prevent rain from washing away any fuel drips or spills. These containment devices, known as Best Management Practices (BMPs), are in place to provide multiple levels of protection from stormwater pollution.

The University's Parking and Transportation Facility has a separate permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity.

UVa Parking and Transportation - Site Documentation and Monitoring

Related Documents

Project Images

 

Installation of the BaySaver (Oil Water Separator)

 


The installation of the BaySaver became necessary due to the oils that drip off of the UVA busses while they are not in operation. During rain events, the oil would be washed from the bus parking area into the storm sewer, which leads directly to Meadow Creek. Despite drip pans being used under the busses in an attempt to collect fluids for proper disposal, contaminants were still reaching the stream from the facility. The BaySaver treats the runoff from the bus parking area and filters out contaminants such as oil, sediment, and other pollutants.


The BaySaver is comprised of two manholes, a primary manhole and a storage manhole. The primary manhole, seen on the right, is attached to the storm drain and serves to collect large sediment. After passing through the primary manhole, the water flows over a weir plate, which regulates flow to the storage manhole. The storage manhole on the left is the secondary treatment device. Oil and floating debris float on the top of the water, while fine sediment settles to the bottom. Clean water is then discharged from the storage manhole to the outfall.


The two small pipes connecting the manholes are the inlet and outlet conneting pipes which convey water between the manholes. The large grooved pipe sticking out of the primary mahole is the actual BaySaver unit. The BaySaver controls the flow of water through the manholes.


This picture is looking down from the top of the storage manhole. The pipe on the right is the inlet, which brings water from the primary manhole. The pipe on the left takes water from the storage manhole to be discharged to the storm sewer network.


"Tee" Pipes in the primary manhole. The "Tee" pipes minimize turbulence during periods of high flow. These pipes also convey treated water from the primary manhole to the storm sewer system.


Construction workers hook the BaySaver up to the storm sewer system.


The completed BaySaver system is hooked up to the storm sewer network.


The completed BaySaver as it looks today.

BaySaver Separation System website.  

Best Management Practices in use at the Parking and Transportation facility

 


A cover has been placed over the bus fueling station. Berms have also been placed around the fueling station. Both of these features will help to contain fuel in the event of a spill. The berms will prevent the fuel from draining into the storm sewer, while the canopy prevents rain from washing the spill away in the event a spill happens during a storm event. Thanks to these features, any fueling spill can be cleaned up properly without any threat to local water quality.


Another view of the berms at the bus fueling station.


A canopy has also been placed over the vehicle fueling area to prevent rain from falling on the fuel in the event of a spill.


A bus washing station has been created on site to prevent dirty, soapy water from entering the storm sewer network. A valved drain located within the berms can be directed to the sanitary sewer while busses are being washed. When not in use, the drain empties to the storm sewer network to allow the proper drainage of rainfall.


Chemicals, such as antifreeze, are stored on site inside the building. While the building itself provides adequate containment in the event of a spill, P&T added an extra berm in the doorway to ensure that chemicals from their site cannot contminate local waterways.


Drums containing petroleum products, like this waste oil drum, have special containment to prevent catch any fluid in the event of a leak.

 

To report an illicit discharge, spill, or unusual water condition call 982-4911!
Contact EHS with stormwater related questions or comments at storm-water@virginia.edu.
EHS Stormwater website questions or comments should be directed to Jess Wenger at jsw6d@virginia.edu or 982-5540.