Contributions to the design of rainwater harvesting systems in buildings with green roofs in a Mediterranean climate.
Green roofs (GRs) are becoming a trend in urban areas, favouring thermal performance of buildings, promoting removal of atmospheric pollutants, and acting as possible water collection spots. Rainwater harvesting systems in buildings can also contribute to the management of stormwater runoff reducing flood peaks. These technologies should be enhanced in Mediterranean countries where water scarcity is increasing and the occurrence of extreme events is becoming very significant, as a result of climate change. An extensive pilot GR with three aromatic plant species, Satureja montana, Thymus caespititius and Thymus pseudolanuginosus, designed to study several parameters affecting rainwater runoff, has been in operation for 12 months. Physico-chemical analyses of roof water runoff (turbidity, pH, conductivity, NH4(+), NO3(-), PO4(3-), chemical oxygen demand) have shown that water was of sufficient quality for non-potable uses in buildings, such as toilet flushing. An innovative approach allowed for the development of an expression to predict a 'monthly runoff coefficient' of the GR system. This parameter is essential when planning and designing GRs combined with rainwater harvesting systems in a Mediterranean climate. This study is a contribution to improving the basis for the design of rainwater harvesting systems in buildings with extensive GRs under a Mediterranean climate.
CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina-Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, Apartado 2511, 4202-401 Porto, Portugal E-mail: plcastro@porto.ucp.pt.
Cristina M
CM
Monteiro
CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina-Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, Apartado 2511, 4202-401 Porto, Portugal E-mail: plcastro@porto.ucp.pt.
Cristina S C
CS
Calheiros
ANQIP-Portuguese Association for Quality and Efficiency in Building Services, Rua de S. Martinho, n.° 4-1°, 3810-181 Aveiro, Portugal.
Carla
C
Pimentel-Rodrigues
ANQIP-Portuguese Association for Quality and Efficiency in Building Services, Rua de S. Martinho, n.° 4-1°, 3810-181 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Armando
A
Silva-Afonso
CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina-Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, Apartado 2511, 4202-401 Porto, Portugal E-mail: plcastro@porto.ucp.pt.
Paula M L
PM
Castro
D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D003252:Construction Materials; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011891:Rain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D060753:Water Quality
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical