Students flood campus officials with water drainage concerns

At the University of Richmond, issues have washed up regarding the school's drainage systems. When it rains water immerses campus grounds, flooding walkways and quads alike. Complaints over the last few weeks have compiled, highlighting challenges over a reported lack of drainage. 

Students have shared their opinions on social media, expressing their concerns with drainage issues. 

“This school should have invested in drainage instead of the library renovations” said an anonymous user on the platform Fizz, who received over 1,300 upvotes on their post.

Flooding has mainly been documented throughout central locations such as the forum and near the Robins School of Business.  

Todd Lookingbill, professor of geography, environment and sustainability, spoke on the strengths and weaknesses of campus sustainability initiatives.

“Yeah, I think we have a strong sustainability office," he said. "We have a strong sustainability plan. We're making good progress towards those goals. But I wish it was wider spread and more rapid, but the progress is there.” 

Students on campus have expressed mixed reactions about drainage after rainfall. “Its just kind of a nuisance”, said first-year Sebastian Marquina.

Marquina has noticed flooding before the entrance to the Heilman Dining Center, and at the forum.

Marquina believes drainage initiatives would provide a one-sided benefit; for the students, and not the university.

“It’d be beneficial for the students and for people walking around campus,” Marquina said. “But I don't see how it profits the university all too much.” 

First year Alexandros Anagnostopoulos, has an indifferent view on the situation.

“I haven’t seen any actual problem.” Anagnostopoulos said.“[Facilities] can always improve stuff, but I don’t think it's crucial”

When talking with others, Anagnostopoulos and his peers have noticed rising water levels at Westhampton Lake, but said these issues don't progress inland.

“It would be insane if [water levels] were to go a bit higher some days but I haven't noticed that.”, said Anagnostopoulos.

Some students said that while the flooding is visible, it does not interfere with daily routines. 

Senior Tyler Morales said that he hasn’t seen any actual problem with the drainage on campus.  

“It looks a bit scary, but that’s about it”, he said. 

Regarding possible renovations to the on-campus drainage system, Morales said “I guess the only question would be, like, where would the water go?... Cause the water's still gonna fall in the same place.”

UR has a unique geographic location, being built around a lake and being located in a state which has one of America’s longest rivers, the James River. This brings about challenges when dealing with water regulation, which Lookingbill said could be better addressed. 

“I don't love that we use the lake as basically a settling pond, so there's nine or so drainage pipes that feed directly into the lake and so during rain events,” Lookingbill said. “A lot of water gets piped into the lake and that can have sediments and especially if it's coming off construction sites on campus…I'd love to see some improvements there.”

Lookingbill pointed out the new five year campus plan, which outlines environmental changes and projects on campus. 

 “All that construction is going to, unless [drainage] is front and center of those construction plans, it's going to create potential drainage issues.”

The addition of impervious surfaces across campus may hinder efforts toward combating drainage, with its current effects already being documented by students.

Lookingbill reflected on initiatives within the student body, noting the work of one student in particular. 

“Whenever it rained, he'd videotape the water coming out of the manhole cover,” Lookingbill said.. “And so he finally did that enough and we got it kind of fixed.”

This instance is part of a collective of student efforts to address environmental factors on campus.

Lookingbill encourages students to engage in on-campus environmental advocacy.

“We really have a good team here at Richmond that wants to be responsive to things,” he said. “And so they just need to know what people's priorities and concerns are.”

Contact news writer Blake Ryan at blake.ryan@richmond.edu

Contact news writer Julian Francis at julian.francis@richmond.edu