The Green Roof Project will bring a piece of the country to the city. During large storm events, this project is a benefit to our area. This project will help reduce combined sewer overflows in the Merrimack River by retaining the stormwater that travels from impervious surfaces all over the watershed and empties into the river through storm drains and combined sewer overflow systems. The project is a type of low impact development (LID), which has a variety of benefits as listed:
- Increases groundwater infiltration and stream base flowreduces runoff and peak flow rates
- Improves water quality through infiltration and increased detention times
- Reduces non-point source pollution (NPS)Decreases combined sewer overflows by reducing storm water runoff
Is it true that all these benefits can come from one roof garden? Yes! Green roofs have been used in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Florida and all throughout Europe. The green roof will be a benefit to the community in that it will make water control easier and the lovely greenery will be open for viewing to the public. Through green roof education and outreach, MRWC will encourage commercial buildings to construct green roofs on their own properties and banks to fund their construction since they provide long-term and short-term benefits that are cost effective. A green roof is initially slightly more costly than a traditional roof; however, besides helping the environment, green roofs can double the life of your roof. Green roofs also decrease heating and cooling costs. Through LID implementation, developing communities have a means to increase their tax base while preserving the hydrologic function of the watershed and minimize ecological impact on the riparian environment, while built-out communities, such as urbanized cities, have the ability to reduce nonpoint source impacts and combined sewer overflows through retroactive use of LID techniques, like green roofs.
