Hydrological Performance and Runoff Water Quality of Experimental Green Roofs

Abstract

Within the scope of the conducted experiment the authors analysed the efficiency of runoff reduction by the system of extensive type green roofs. The observations were based on storm events in the area of Lower Silesia at the Agro and Hydrometeorology Station Wrocław-Swojec. The authors analysed the thickness of plant substrate, and also estimated the quality of runoff waters under the conditions of periodic atmospheric deposition. Also considered were such indicators as electrolytic conductivity, N, NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, P, PO43−. The experiment included roof substrates designed in two variants, with known hydraulic and physical properties of the soil material. The analysis was performed for models with vegetation layer based on pumice and zelolite, covered with five plant species from the sedum family. The modelling of the hydraulic properties was conducted with variably saturated medium, using the Hydrus 1D software. The performance of systems with primary layer thickness of 11 cm and 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 cm was estimated. The designed models reduced the average peak flows to 89%, and in addition they caused a delay in the initiation of the runoff which was dependent on the intensity and distribution of rainfalls in time, and on the initial moisture of the profiles. Simulations, performed for variable substrate thickness, permit the conclusion that in the case of thin-layer profiles (5 cm), the relative retention index was decidedly lower and amounted to 35.9% for the substrate with zeolite (originally 60.6%) and 41% for the substrate with pumice (originally 65.7%). In the case of total nitrogen and phosphates, statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in relation to specific concentrations in the rainwater and in the control surface. The total nitrogen in the runoff from the green roof was nearly twice as high as that in the rainwater and amounted to, on average, 8.3 mg L−1.

The green roofs for reduction in the load on rainwater drainage in highly urbanised areas

“…The results confirm the observations of other researchers that retention depends on the functionality of the growing media and the drainage layer (Kaiser et al 2019). Observations by researchers in other Central European cities have also been corroborated, namely, that the optimal selection of vegetation used on a green roof strongly depends on local climatic conditions (Hrudka et al 2020;Pęczkowski et al 2018;Pęczkowski et al 2020).…”

Techos verdes: una estrategia sustentable

“…También hacen posible la disminución de la concentración de polvo en la atmósfera en un 25% y almacenan un promedio de 168 g de carbono por cada m 2 de su área [29], lo que permite disminuir la contaminación química existente. Asimismo, los techos verdes permiten reducir el consumo de agua dulce en las ciudades, pues disminuyen el flujo anual de escorrentía entre 27 y 81% a través de la retención del agua pluvial entre un 35 y 41% para poder ser reutilizada [24] y permiten estabilizar el nivel de aguas subterráneas y bajar así el riesgo por inundaciones en las urbes [30]. Finalmente, contribuyen a la conservación de la biodiversidad al funcionar como hábitat para la flora y fauna de las regiones, permitiendo así la reproducción y migración de las especies [28].…”

Stormwater Retention and Reuse at the Residential Plot Level—Green Roof Experiment and Water Balance Computations for Long-Term Use in Cyprus

“…Weather-related factors such as antecedent substrate moisture, rainfall depth and the intensity and duration of rainfall events affect green roof stormwater retention [1,7,8]. Green roof substrate composition and depth, the plants and roof slope also influence stormwater retention [9][10][11]. Various studies have examined the substrate composition to optimize stormwater management, minimize weight and support adequate plant growth [8,12,13].…”