Green Roof Storm-Water Runoff Quantity and Quality
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 4
Abstract
The design of a green roof plays a significant role in performance. In a ground-level field study, 28 built-in-place green roof models, four modular units, and four roof decks with standard black membrane were arranged in a completely randomized design. Storm-water runoff quantity and quality were monitored from September 2005 through June 2008. Results indicate that green roof systems significantly reduced storm-water runoff and that system design, growth media depth, and presence of plants impacted storm-water retention. In a second study on a building roof, two modular systems were used to evaluate water loss through evapotranspiration. Water loss of both systems was significant and influenced by system design, growth media type, and presence of plants. Finally, runoff quality analyses from the ground-level field study and from a laboratory pot experiment indicate that nitrate, total suspended solids, and turbidity are generally low in runoff after a first-flush event. Runoff water quality was also influenced by system design, growth media type, and presence of plants.
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Acknowledgments
Materials were donated by Mr. Vic Jost of Jost Greenhouses, Mr. Kelly Luckett of Green Roof Blocks, and Mr. Mike Curry of Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies. Funding for part of the research was provided by the U.S. EPA and SIUE’s Research Grants for Graduate Students and Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities programs. The authors would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Brent Vaughn, SIUE Civil Engineering Lab Specialist, and all of the undergraduate and graduate students at SIUE who have participated in this green roof research.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 4 • April 2013
Pages: 471 - 478
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 19, 2010
Accepted: May 21, 2012
Published online: May 23, 2012
Published in print: Apr 1, 2013
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