University of Maine, Office of Facilities Management

Environment & Conservation

Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Strategies
UMaine's stormwater management program works to protect surface and groundwater impacted by stormwater flows from construction projects, facility maintenance, and waste management activities. UMaine utilizes numerous best management practices (BMPs) to protect our stormwater, from good housekeeping to prevent the spill of hazardous and special materials and waste, to dredging and cleaning detention ponds and drainage swales to ensure they function as designed. Below find examples of some of the BMPs UMaine uses.


Hay bales used to slow runoff from the road to a storm drain after hydroseeding.	Storm Drain shown with blue stencil to show it’s been cleaned and assessed for deterioration in 2005.	Belgrade Lot Detention pond is designed to contain run off from drainage area and slow its release to river.

Drainage ditches are maintained free of soil, trash and debris, like this one at University Park.	Dumpsters are used in some locations to contain large amounts of trash. Lids are kept closed to prevent litter.	Hydroseeding, shown here by FM Landscaping, controls erosion in new plantings and landscaping projects.

Trash receptacles and cigarette urns provide place for trash and butts, which prevents litter and stormwater pollution.	Storm drain stencil “Dump No Waste Drains to River” used to educate the public, students, and employees.	FM Grounds’ street sweeper is used to clean out storm drain catch basins and sweep dirt, sand, and litter from streets.

Volunteers help to cleanup trash and spruce up campus every spring on Maine Day.	Stormwater outfalls, 36 total at UMaine, are inspected for trash, deterioration, and illicit discharges annually.	Storm drain shown with yellow stencil to show it was cleaned and assessed for deterioration in 2006.

Clogged storm drain grates are cleaned in spring of sand, leaves, and trash to function properly and prevent pollution.	Outdoor recycling containers, like these shown at Stewart Commons, help promote recycling and reduce litter.	Think Blue Maine is a statewide radio and television educational campaign UMaine contributes to.

Industrial vaccum truck is used to clean sand and grit from storm drain catch basins in 2006.	Vehicle washing takes place at the FM Motorpool where wash water contaminated with oils drains to the sanitary sewer.	Trashmasters are used at many buildings for bagged recyclables and trash to prevent wind blown litter until pick up.

Fuel oil storage tank at the FM Heating Plant has ashalt/earthen containment to contain 110% of a potential spill.	Bollards are installed around transformers and similar equipment to prevent leakage from being hit by a vehicle.	Sheet run-off of rain water from the Orchard Lot is slowed by a stone barrier that prevents soil erosion into streams.

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