Frequent Questions for the Grounds Department

Q: Why are there fountains in the reservoir?

A: These fountains are an attractive display but one could argue they won't actually match the natural aesthetic of the campus. The fact is that without them the water would be depleted of oxygen and become foul smelling. The aeration provided by the foundtains keeps the water clean and helps make it beautiful, odor free, and healthy for the fish and other organisms that live there.

Q: Where does our irrigation water come from?

A: We have a pump that draws water from the reservoir on south campus. The water in the reservoir is supplied from Nicolas Sheran Lake which in turn is supplied by Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. The water flows overland from Nicolas Sheran to University Drive and is then underground to our pond.

Q: Where do all of the flowers in campus planters come from?

A: Each year we grow up to 8000 annuals from seed in the greenhouse at Parkway Service Centre. This process starts in December of the previous year when we order seed. Our goal is to have the flowers ready for the outdoor planters in time for spring convocation so planting begins while there is snow and cold weather outside.

Q: How does the Living Wall in the AWESB work?

A: The Living Wall is a soil-less growing system that requires tropical plants in a moistened fiber mat. Nutrients are added to water that is pumped to the top of the wall to cascade down and sustain the plants. Propagating, reviving and enlarging plants for the living wall is a year round venture at the Parkway green house. When plants are failing on the wall we often remove them to nurse them back to health in soil in the greenhouse. Each year we purchase several hundred new plants to replace the failed ones.

Q: What happened to the plants in the UCA Atrium?

A: Due to an unsafe work situation work on the Atrium planters was suspended and they slowly died as a solution was investigated. When solutions were evaluated a decision was made to keep workers out of the area. Silk plants were deemed to be an acceptable replacement and not require the level of care of living plants. The replacement plants were chosen to emulate the native prairie setting better than the tropical plants that were removed.

Q: Why do we have a grassy ditch dividing the parking lot?

A: Any new development requires several strategies to manage storm water runoff from hard surfaces. These surfaces include roofs and parking areas. The two issues that need to be addressed are 1. Downstream flooding and 2. Pollution that might enter the river system. The eastern edge of Lot E has swales to catch rain water. These swales are constructed with engineered soil to allow water to infiltrate to an underground drainage system. The first flush of water in a storm contains the majority of pollutants from the hard surface. The soil filters the water before it is sent to the river. In the case of a bigger rain event the rest of the water that is also cleaner is allowed to overflow into raised catch basins and enter the storm water system. This bio swale both filters and slows the storm water on its way to the river.