How Do Green Roofs Mitigate Storm Water Runoff?
As impermeable surfaces like buildings and pavement replace open space and vegetation, green roofs can play an increasingly important role in storm water management. During rainstorms, green roofs act as a sponge, absorbing much of the water that would otherwise run off. Researchers estimate that three to five inches of soil or growing medium absorbs 75% of rain events that are one-half inch or less. Green roofs also filter pollution from rainwater. This is achieved by the root systems’ bacteria and fungi, which utilize the natural filtering processes of bioremediation and phytoremediation. As a result, the non-point source pollutants, nitrogen and phosphorus, are broken down and detoxified. This beneficial process increases over time as rooftop plants and root systems mature.
