Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/29/25

The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

The system was designed to capture about 25 million gallons of stormwater per year and repurpose it to run the plant, reducing the costs and labor associated with purchasing domestic water. The project was developed in partnership with Bell Engineering, and funding came from a Stormwater Infrastructure Grant from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the news release reports.

Photo by Arden Barnes

“The stormwater harvesting system plays a critical role in helping us offset campus water usage and manage stormwater runoff,” said Britney Ragland, Utilities and Energy Management associate director. “If we can capture, reuse and return this water to the environment, it reduces our footprint on the local water system while also benefiting the local watershed.”

The CUP cooling plant uses about 45 million gallons of water annually. In addition to the project’s functionality, it also provided the opportunity for engineering senior design teams to study aspects of the system during the most recent academic year, according to the news release.

“This award highlights the university’s dedication to sustainability, innovation and collaboration,” said Ragland. “We are proud of the work that has gone into this project and look forward to its long-term impact on campus and beyond.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • University of Idaho Debuts New Campus Housing Community

    The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vandal Village, a new campus housing community for graduate students and families, according to a news release.

  • California District Opens New Continuation High School

    The Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) in Fort Bragg, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Noyo High School, a continuation high school that provides alternative education options for students in grades 6–12, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrochi Kwok Architects for design and FRC Inc. for construction, and the project’s funding came from Local Bond Measure B.