Storm Water
Storm water comes from rain or melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. Storm water pollution is one of the leading non–point source pollution causes of stream health degradation in New York State.
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Impervious surfaces (roads, sidewalks, buildings) do not absorb storm water as unpaved ground does. Further development paves over open spaces, often leaving storm water no place to go except onto the paved surfaces. Storm water causes roadway flooding, backups of sewage into homes, and discharges of pollutants from roads and other hard surfaces.
Construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil must be authorized under the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. Permitees are required to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to prevent discharges of construction-related pollutants to surface waters.
A variety of green storm water management techniques are in place at the College, including a vegetative roof, porous paving, vegetative and stone swales, and retention ponds. (Click here to see the STARS report.
Sewer
The College's sewer plant was upgraded in 2000. It is now an “RBC” (rotating biological contactor) plant. Our SPDES permit is for 200,000 gal. per day. The treated water is returned to the Sawkill Creek.
Wetlands
Where are Bard’s wetlands? Wetlands provide important ecosystem services: they filter and clean our water, mitigate the effects of floods, and offer a home to a variety of plants and animals. Click here for more wetlands information.
