Green Roofs As An Epa Approved Bmp

Epa incorporated green rooftops at its new england regional office in boston.

Green roofs as an epa approved bmp.

The vegetation and planting media can capture and evapotranspirate the majority of smaller rainfall events typically one inch or less at the source. Ellicott city maryland 21042 billy j. O connor urban watershed management branch water supply and. Epa 600 r 04 121 september 2004 stormwater best management practice design guide volume 1 general considerations by michael l.

A variety of bmps are need ed to accommodate a wide range of projects. Professor emeritus department of agricultural engineering oklahoma state university stillwater oklahoma thomas p. A green roof is one of many stormwater management strategies and can help mimic pre development conditions on a site. National menu of best management practices bmps for stormwater first released in october 2000 the menu of bmps is based on the stormwater phase ii rule s six minimum control measures.

The bmp manual provides examples of ways to meet the standards contained in the rule. Many jurisdictions require stormwater quality best management practices bmp s for all new and redevelopment projects exceeding one half acre. Technology or best management practice bmp. For compliance with phase ii stormwater regs.

Green roofs can be incorporated with other stormwater controls and included in a municipal stormwater management plan swmp. Porous pavements are an approved bmp. Green roofs fit into a subcategory of on site bmp termed low impact development lid technology that also includes biofiltration swales and rain gardens. Breidenbach environmental research center in cincinnati ohio has an 8 000 square foot green roof.

Rainwater is collected from the 4th 5th and 17th floor rooftops stored in cisterns and distributed by a solar powered pump to irrigate the green roof. Epa offers a list of best management practices bmps to help owners within regulated areas to control runoff. The new jersey stormwater best management practices manual bmp manual is eveloped to provide guidance to address the standards in the stormwater management rules n j a c. Estimating the environmental effects of green roofs.

Epa has found the practices listed in the menu of bmps to be representative of the types of practices that can successfully achieve the minimum control measures.