The University of Toledo

Water Quality & Conservation

The University of Toledo, is committed to using our water resources efficiently and conserving water whenever possible. We have several initiatives on campus that address water usage and water quality.

Rain Gauges

• UT has installed rain gauges on our water systems
• If it rains over a certain threshold, the watering systems shut off in order to conserve water and save money

Rain Gardens 

• UT has constructed quick-draining, native vegetation rain gardens in several locations on main campus
• Garden 1: Parking Lot 10, north of the Glass Bowl, and the Ottawa River on Main Campus
• Garden 2: Located between International House and Academic House
• Garden 3: Located next to the Center for Performing Arts
• Rain gardens not only soak up runoff and make the campus more beautiful, but also serves as an outdoor classroom for students studying water quality and environmental sustainability practices
• The gardens collect and filter storm water runoff from a 30,000-square-foot area and helps prevent it from draining directly into the Ottawa River
• Storm water carries a lot of pollutants, and keeping sediments, fertilizer, lawn and garden pesticides, oil and road salt out of the river on Main Campus is better for the fish and insects that live there, at the bottom of the food chain
• Before the installation of the gardens, storm water drained directly into the river