HILLIARD, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State University and Advanced Drainage
Systems, Inc. (NYSE: WMS) ("ADS" or the "Company") today announced
a new collaboration that will support water management research,
enhance student learning, and make campus more sustainable.
The company is donating two state-of-the-art stormwater management
systems for the Innovation District on west campus along with a
cash gift to install them and fund related research and teaching
opportunities. Additional parts of the gift will promote
diversity and inclusion by supporting the Engineering House
Learning Community and will help the university improve recycling
on campus. The combined value of the product donation and
cash gift exceeds $1 million.
A video on the collaboration can be viewed here.
"The new collaboration with ADS will greatly improve the way
Ohio State manages stormwater runoff
from new development at Innovation District," says Kate Bartter, Executive Director of the
Sustainability Institute. Stormwater management is a
significant economic and environmental issue when designing new
construction. The collaboration draws attention to stormwater
management at a time when climate change is exacerbating the issue
by greatly increasing the number and intensity of storm
events. Catastrophic flooding in the southern United States and overseas in places like
Germany have highlighted the
danger from extreme storm events to life and property.
The challenges posed by stormwater management is a powerful
motivation for Advanced Drainage Systems, a supplier of drainage
products for residential, commercial, agriculture and
infrastructure markets. "Our reason is water, whether in an
urban or rural setting," says Scott
Barbour, ADS President and CEO. "We are pleased to be
able to help Ohio State manage
stormwater runoff at its new Innovation District with this
donation."
In addition to the product donation and installation cost, the
company plans to support research and teaching opportunities that
will use the larger of the two stormwater systems as a living
laboratory for urban water management. Potential projects
include comparing the performance of the company's stormwater
management system to water quality from traditional retention pond
and exploring the possibility of tapping the water stored inside
the system for irrigation. Part of the gift will also support
the diversity and inclusion goals of the Engineering House Learning
Community for undergraduate students.
"Bringing together Ohio State's core
assets like this is the equivalent of an academic trifecta,"
Bartter adds. "It really demonstrates what the university can
contribute to our knowledge and application of sustainability
solutions. This collaboration will not only make our campus
more sustainable, but it will generate research and teaching
benefits for years to come."
Launched in 2019, the Sustainability Institute supports
Ohio State's vision to be a world
leader in developing durable solutions to the pressing challenges
of sustainability. The institute enables a more effective and
coordinated approach to interdisciplinary sustainability research,
teaching, campus stewardship and community engagement. Its
mission is to build a more sustainable and resilient future for
all.
Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading provider of innovative
water management solutions in the stormwater and on-site septic
wastewater industries, providing superior drainage solutions for
use in the construction and agriculture marketplace. For over 50
years, the Company has been manufacturing a variety of innovative
and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials.
Its innovative products are used across abroad range of end markets
and applications, including non-residential, residential,
infrastructure and agriculture applications. The Company has
established a leading position in many of these end markets by
leveraging its national sales and distribution platform, overall
product breadth and scale and manufacturing excellence. Founded in
1966, the Company operates a global network of approximately 60
manufacturing plants and 30 distribution centers. To learn more
about ADS, please visit the Company's website at www.adspipe.com.
Learn more about the ADS-OSU collaboration.
For more information, please contact:
Brian King
EVP, Marketing, Product Development and Sustainability
(614) 404-8065
brian.king@adspipe.com
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SOURCE Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.