MADISON — University of Wisconsin-Parkside will keep its athletic fields green while meeting stricter stormwater quality standards with a $617,000 project approved last week by the State Building Commission.

The project channels stormwater runoff from part of the campus, turning a bermed basin into a 1.2 acre pond at the northwest corner of Highway E and Wood Road (30th Avenue). There, sediment settles from the runoff, and an installed system will pump cleaner water to irrigate up to 27 acres of athletic and recreational fields.

While the project increases stormwater quality, it also decreases water consumption.

Last year Parkside spent $18,000 to purchase thousands of gallons of water for irrigation and $9,500 in labor costs to set up and take down irrigation lines, according to information supplied to the commission.

Based on those past costs, the project will have a 22-year payback period.

“You usually don’t see payback applied to this type of project, but a 20-year payback period is pretty good for most energy projects. ... Also, the athletic department is thrilled; they’re tired of running the hose reels around,” said Don Kolbe, director of facilities management at Parkside.

The Department of Natural Resources considers Parkside a municipality and subject to municipal stormwater standards which now require a 20 percent reduction in total suspended solids in the stormwater discharged into state waters.

While Parkside currently meets the 20 percent reduction this year, it doesn’t meet the 40 percent reduction mandated for March 2013.

However, the pond and pumping system is designed to achieve that reduction, Kolbe said.

The new wet pond will consist of two smaller ponds connected by a low-flow ditch which crosses an existing wetland.

During drought periods the pumps will be switched off and the athletic fields would be irrigated by conventional means, Kolbe said.

Project funding comes from taxpayer dollars and cash reserved for campus maintenance.

The project must be designed and bid, but Kolbe anticipated it will be operational by spring.

Parkside has lots of natural areas, and has converted some to rain gardens to improve stormwater runoff from the Student Center and parking lots on the northeast side of the campus.

Another project scheduled for next year will treat stormwater from the Communication Arts building, Kolbe said.