Changes

The key hydrologic benefit which green roofs have over other forms of LID is the proportion of the water returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration.   

The key hydrologic benefit which green roofs have over other forms of LID is the proportion of the water returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration.   

*In Southern Ontario rainwater retention of extensive green roofs without irrigation is between 60% and 70%<ref>http://www.sustainabletechnologies.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/NRC_EastviewGRrept.pdf</ref><ref name=VS>T. Van Seters, L. Rocha, D. Smith, G. MacMillan; Evaluation of Green Roofs for Runoff Retention, Runoff Quality, and Leachability, Vol. 44 (1): 33 - 47 (2009). Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Management in Canada</ref>

*In Southern Ontario rainwater retention of extensive green roofs without irrigation is between 60% and 70%<ref>Liu, M. Minor, J. 2005. Performance evaluation of an extensive green roof. National Research Council of Canada. NRCC-48204 https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2013/03/NRC_EastviewGRrept.pdf</ref> <ref name=VS>T. Van Seters, L. Rocha, D. Smith, G. MacMillan; Evaluation of Green Roofs for Runoff Retention, Runoff Quality, and Leachability, Vol. 44 (1): 33 - 47 (2009). Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Management in Canada</ref> <ref name=Hill>Hill J, Drake J, Sleep B, Margolis L. Influences of Four Extensive Green Roof Design Variables on Stormwater Hydrology. J Hydrol Eng. 2017;22(8):04017019. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001534</ref>.  

<ref name=Hill>Hill J, Drake J, Sleep B, Margolis L. Influences of Four Extensive Green Roof Design Variables on Stormwater Hydrology. J Hydrol Eng. 2017;22(8):04017019. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001534</ref>.  

*Including winter periods with snow accumulation and thaw, the annual retention of extensive green roofs is around  50% <ref name=VS/><ref name=Hill/>.

*Including winter periods with snow accumulation and thaw, the annual retention of extensive green roofs is around  50% <ref name=VS/><ref name=Hill/>.

*Using a compost based planting medium improves retention by around 10% i.e. 60 % for compost compared to 50% for granular.

*Using a compost based planting medium improves retention by around 10% i.e. 60 % for compost compared to 50% for granular.

===Water quality===

===Water quality===

Many green roofs receive only rainwater, which is relatively clean when it lands. As such green roofs can contribute contamination, most notably in [[Water quality#Nutrient|nutrient]] leaching during early establishment. Reported values of total [[phosphorus]] in green roof runoff vary from less than 0.1 ppm to over 10 ppm.

Many green roofs receive only rainwater, which is relatively free of contaminants like nutrients and heavy metals, but can contribute contaminants to roof runoff, most notably through leaching of [[Nutrients]] from the growing medium substrate during early establishment.<ref>Vijayaraghavan, K., Harkishore Kumar Reddy, D., Yun, Y. 2018. Improving the quality of runoff from green roofs through synergistic biosorption and phytoremediation techniques: A review. Sustainable Cities and Society. 46 (2019) 101381. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210670718319383?via%3Dihub</ref>  Reported concentrations of Total [[Phosphorus]] in green roof runoff have been observed to vary from less than 0.1 ppm to over 10 ppm.<ref>Hill J., Drake J., Sleep B., Margolis L. 2017. Influences of Four Extensive Green Roof Design Variables on Stormwater Hydrology. J Hydrol Eng. 2017;22(8):04017019. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001534</ref>. To improve the quality of runoff from green roofs, Vijayaraghavan et al. (2018) recommend considering the sorption capacity of the growing medium substrate, the phytoremediation potential of plants and incorporation of sorbent [[Additives]] to growing medium substrates.<ref>Vijayaraghavan, K., Harkishore Kumar Reddy, D., Yun, Y. 2018. Improving the quality of runoff from green roofs through synergistic biosorption and phytoremediation techniques: A review. Sustainable Cities and Society. 46 (2019) 101381. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210670718319383?via%3Dihub</ref>

But, in dense urban centres, green roofs are increasingly being used to receive irrigation from harvested rainwater. Current Ontario Building Code permits the use of rooftop runoff to be reused in this manner, so long as it is 'free of solids'.

 

A 'closed loop' system can be created by coupling a rainwater harvesting system to a green roof.  by catching and reusing runoff, the only water leaving the system is through evapotranspiration. This prevents any runoff from leaving the site and so prevents any nutrient loading to the environment.

In dense urban centres, green roofs are increasingly being used to receive irrigation from harvested rainwater. Current Ontario Building Code permits the use of rooftop runoff for landscape irrigation purposes, so long as it is 'free of solids'.

A 'closed loop' system can be created by coupling a rainwater harvesting system with a green roof and harvesting and reusing roof runoff as a source of water for irrigation during dry periods, so the only water leaving the system is through evapotranspiration. This can prevent runoff from leaving the site and thereby prevent contaminant loading to the environment.

[[File:TP.PNG|thumb|Total phosphorous concentrations reported in green roof runoff(abstracted from Hill 2017)]]

[[File:TP.PNG|thumb|Total phosphorous concentrations reported in green roof runoff(abstracted from Hill 2017)]]

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