Introduction
Special textile water storage mats planted with moisture preferring plants are installed on the roof.The selected types of wetland or marsh plants will be pre-cultivated on mats of non-woven material for one year.The automatic watering of the wetland roof is steered by an irrigation computer.The rainwater usually stored by cisterns will be pumped on the plant mats in intervals, thus ensuring a sufficient water supply.Surplus water will be collected in the rain gutters, conveyed back into the rainwater cistern and will then be pumped back on the roof.
Wetland treatment roof in Switzerland
Reason to Be Selected
The wetland roof is an innovative special type of an extensive green roof.Besides the aesthetic aspect, this particular type of green roof offers significant functional advantages.Wetland roofs are natural air-conditioning systems.Wetland roofs can help to manage small but frequent floods from rainfall,which is a good way of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Highlights:
1) Compensation of temperature amplitudes and cooling ;
2) Stormwater discharge reduction;
3) Increase of the durability of the roof structure;
4) Compensation of surface impermeability of the sealed roof area;
5) Considerable reduction of air-conditioning;
6) Improvement of the microclimate and contribution to the prevention of overheating;
7) Filtration of dust emissions and other air polluting contaminants;
8) Higher short-wave radiative reflexion compared to a dark bitumen roof;
9) Reduced roof loads;
10) Possible design as a roof garden;
11) Possible use as a roof based sewage treatment plant for greywater recycling and for stormwater treatment;
Details
Wetland roofs are used for retention and purification of stormwater and are also an option for greywater treatment. The effluent water may be reused for irrigation, for groundwater recharge by seepage into the ground or for sanitary facilities by greywater recycling.Wetland or marsh plants are especially appropriate for the filtration of airborne particles, due to their active vegetation mainly during the summer months. Dust particles accumulate on the surface of the vegetation layer and will then be rinsed into the mats by rainwater.There, most of the nutrients are absorbed and incorporated into the plant biomass. The protection of the roof skin by the permanent plant cover increases the durability of the roof.The selected types of wetland or marsh plants will be pre-cultivated on mats of non-woven material for one year before becoming part of a wetland roof structure. For the cultivation, these non-woven or textile based mats are equipped with suitable plants and are raised in a plant nursery for one vegetation period. After approximately six months precultivation, the plant carrier mats are completely penetrated by roots and the mat strips are then ready to be installed on the roof.The mats have a considerable water storage capacity (10L/m²), thereby ensuring a water supply for the plants for at least one week in case of failure of the irrigation pump.
Conclusions
Wetland roof serves as a multifunctional and sustainable green structure of biuldings ,which can not only contribute efficiently to biuld a resilient city by withstanding flooding and reducing energy consumption,but also benefit the local community by providing a green space that people can enjoy.
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