Joseph J. Foy, Ph.D. President | Benedictine University

The DuPage County Department of Stormwater Management has awarded a Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) grant to Benedictine University. Bill Schubert, a lecturer at the university, played a key role in securing the grant. Schubert, who has been an adjunct faculty member in both the Engineering Program and Biological Sciences, is leading engineering students on projects aimed at reducing phosphorus discharged through stormwater runoff on the Lisle campus. This effort is in collaboration with Leigh Anne Harden, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

The runoff poses risks to the ecological health of Lake St. Benedict and the East Branch of the DuPage River Watershed. The projects include retrofitting detention ponds on campus to function as wet ponds, installing a nutrient deactivation system in Lake St. Benedict, and implementing a goose deterrent system to reduce phosphorus-bearing animal waste entering the lake.

The WQIP grant will cover up to $6,065 of expenses incurred by the university for these improvements. "Congratulations to Mr. Schubert and the BenU engineering students for securing a grant that will positively impact the environmental health of the University!"

Chris Cartwright from Kasco Marine is assisting by testing aeration and mixing equipment at no cost to Benedictine University.