The hydrological performance of a green roof in Sydney, Australia: A tale of two towers

Fleck, R; Westerhausen, MT; Killingsworth, N; Ball, J; Torpy, FR; Irga, PJ

The hydrological performance of a green roof in Sydney, Australia: A tale of two towers

Fleck, R

Westerhausen, MT Killingsworth, N Ball, J Torpy, FR Irga, PJ

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Building and Environment, 2022, 221, pp. 109274
Issue Date:: 2022-08-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fleck, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2045-1656
dc.contributor.author	Westerhausen, MT
dc.contributor.author	Killingsworth, N
dc.contributor.author	Ball, J
dc.contributor.author	Torpy, FR
dc.contributor.author	Irga, PJ
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-08T04:59:24Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-08T04:59:24Z
dc.date.issued	2022-08-01
dc.identifier.citation	Building and Environment, 2022, 221, pp. 109274
dc.identifier.issn	0360-1323
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159762
dc.description.abstract	This study describes the sister buildings Daramu house and International house in Barangaroo, Sydney (Australia's largest metropolitan city), with and without a green roof, respectively. Trace metal samples were collected from both roofs and analysed using ICP-MS to determine the bioretention potential of the green roof to remediate soluble and particulate stormwater trace metal contamination. Retention of ambient trace metal contamination by the green roof substrate was deemed significant for soluble copper and particulate zinc, chromium and copper. In addition, hydrological models (DRAINS and SWMM) were applied to predict the performance of the green roof to identify its ability to manage stormwater runoff and frequency, as well as to analyse the green roof's performance in complex surface flooding situations where storage or backwater effects occur in overflow routes and surface flows. Our results demonstrate a reduction in peak stormwater flow by 18.29 L/s (∼50%) for storms as infrequent as 1 in 5 years, and peak flow reductions up to 90% storms of lower intensities. These results are significant as it demonstrates that a green roof could remediating trace metals contamination, thus reducing the impact on aquatic environments through stormwater runoff. It also highlights their potential to reduce stormwater flow, and utilise this additional water for evapotranspiration, leading to cooler ambient temperatures. Future works should aim to quantify the remediation effect of various planted species on in-situ green roofs, as well as determine the specific retention capabilities of various substrate compositions.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation	The Council of the City of Sydney
dc.relation.ispartof	Building and Environment
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109274
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	0502 Environmental Science and Management, 1201 Architecture, 1202 Building
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.title	The hydrological performance of a green roof in Sydney, Australia: A tale of two towers
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	221
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management
utslib.for	1201 Architecture
utslib.for	1202 Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-08-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2022-08-08T04:59:23Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	221

Abstract:

This study describes the sister buildings Daramu house and International house in Barangaroo, Sydney (Australia's largest metropolitan city), with and without a green roof, respectively. Trace metal samples were collected from both roofs and analysed using ICP-MS to determine the bioretention potential of the green roof to remediate soluble and particulate stormwater trace metal contamination. Retention of ambient trace metal contamination by the green roof substrate was deemed significant for soluble copper and particulate zinc, chromium and copper. In addition, hydrological models (DRAINS and SWMM) were applied to predict the performance of the green roof to identify its ability to manage stormwater runoff and frequency, as well as to analyse the green roof's performance in complex surface flooding situations where storage or backwater effects occur in overflow routes and surface flows. Our results demonstrate a reduction in peak stormwater flow by 18.29 L/s (∼50%) for storms as infrequent as 1 in 5 years, and peak flow reductions up to 90% storms of lower intensities. These results are significant as it demonstrates that a green roof could remediating trace metals contamination, thus reducing the impact on aquatic environments through stormwater runoff. It also highlights their potential to reduce stormwater flow, and utilise this additional water for evapotranspiration, leading to cooler ambient temperatures. Future works should aim to quantify the remediation effect of various planted species on in-situ green roofs, as well as determine the specific retention capabilities of various substrate compositions.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159762