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The influence of extensive vegetated roofs on runoff water quality

Czemiel Berndtsson, Justyna LU ; Emilsson, T and Bengtsson, Lars LU (2006) In Science of the Total Environment 355(1-3). p.48-63
Abstract
The influence of extensive sedum-moss vegetated roofs on runoff water quality was studied for four full scale installations located in southern Sweden. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the vegetated roof behaves as a sink or a source of pollutants and whether the age of a vegetated roof influences runoff quality. The runoff quality from vegetated roofs was also compared with the runoff quality from non-vegetated roofs located in study areas. The following metals and nutrients were investigated: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Pb, Zn, NO3-N, NH4 - N, Tot-N, PO4-P, and Tot-P.

The results show that, with the exception of nitrogen, vegetated roofs behave as source of contaminants. While in lower concentrations than normally found... (More)
The influence of extensive sedum-moss vegetated roofs on runoff water quality was studied for four full scale installations located in southern Sweden. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the vegetated roof behaves as a sink or a source of pollutants and whether the age of a vegetated roof influences runoff quality. The runoff quality from vegetated roofs was also compared with the runoff quality from non-vegetated roofs located in study areas. The following metals and nutrients were investigated: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Pb, Zn, NO3-N, NH4 - N, Tot-N, PO4-P, and Tot-P.

The results show that, with the exception of nitrogen, vegetated roofs behave as source of contaminants. While in lower concentrations than normally found in urban runoff, some metals appear in concentrations that would correspond to moderately polluted natural water. Nitrate nitrogen is retained by the vegetation or soil or both. Apart from the oldest, the studied vegetated roofs contribute phosphate phosphorus to the runoff. The maintenance of the vegetation systems on the roofs has to be carefully designed in order to avoid storm-water contamination; for instance, the use of easily dissolvable fertilizers should be avoided. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
heavy metals, extensive vegetated roofs, nutrients, sedum, runoff quality, urban
in
Science of the Total Environment
volume
355
issue
1-3
pages
48 - 63
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000235508500005
  • scopus:31344479303
ISSN
1879-1026
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.02.035
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8c6ddbc1-9ec9-48ba-908c-c636b6bf667b (old id 912655)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:24:25
date last changed
2022-03-13 17:27:35
@article{8c6ddbc1-9ec9-48ba-908c-c636b6bf667b,
  abstract     = {{The influence of extensive sedum-moss vegetated roofs on runoff water quality was studied for four full scale installations located in southern Sweden. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the vegetated roof behaves as a sink or a source of pollutants and whether the age of a vegetated roof influences runoff quality. The runoff quality from vegetated roofs was also compared with the runoff quality from non-vegetated roofs located in study areas. The following metals and nutrients were investigated: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Pb, Zn, NO3-N, NH4 - N, Tot-N, PO4-P, and Tot-P. <br/><br>
The results show that, with the exception of nitrogen, vegetated roofs behave as source of contaminants. While in lower concentrations than normally found in urban runoff, some metals appear in concentrations that would correspond to moderately polluted natural water. Nitrate nitrogen is retained by the vegetation or soil or both. Apart from the oldest, the studied vegetated roofs contribute phosphate phosphorus to the runoff. The maintenance of the vegetation systems on the roofs has to be carefully designed in order to avoid storm-water contamination; for instance, the use of easily dissolvable fertilizers should be avoided. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Czemiel Berndtsson, Justyna and Emilsson, T and Bengtsson, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1879-1026}},
  keywords     = {{heavy metals; extensive vegetated roofs; nutrients; sedum; runoff quality; urban}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-3}},
  pages        = {{48--63}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
  title        = {{The influence of extensive vegetated roofs on runoff water quality}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.02.035}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.02.035}},
  volume       = {{355}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}