The university’s Utilities and Energy Management team in Facilities Management received the award for its work on the Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System project.
The University of Kentucky’s Utilities and Energy Management team in Facilities Management is celebrating its recent win at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky. The team earned the Grand Award for its involvement in the Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which was in development from 2017 to 2023. The system collects rainwater and then repurposes it to offset water usage of the system.
According to an article on the University of Kentucky’s website, Britney Ragland, who is the associate director of Utilities and Energy Management, explained the project. She is quoted as saying, “The stormwater harvesting system plays a critical role in helping us offset campus water usage and manage stormwater runoff. 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 Central Utility Plant Stormwater Harvesting System was developed in collaboration with Bell Engineering and was funded via a Stormwater Infrastructure Grant from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. The system can capture up to 25 million gallons of stormwater that flow into the Wolf Run watershed each year. By repurposing that water to supplement the 45 million gallons of water the CUP cooling plant uses annually, the university is able to have a significant environmental impact.
In addition to the environmental impact, the development of the system provided educational opportunities for students in mechanical, civil, and biosystems engineering who were able to conduct testing on the system.
Ragland said of the team’s recognition at the awards ceremony, “This award highlights the university’s dedication to sustainability, innovation and collaboration. We are proud of the work that has gone into this project and look forward to its long-term impact on campus and beyond.”
For more information about the University of Kentucky, visit the school’s website.