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Green roof drained rainwater quality assessment: a physicochemical analysis from a case study in Northeastern Brazil

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Abstract

Green roofs have attracted a lot of attention from architects and engineers based on the benefits associated with their use. This research was carried out in a Brazilian semiarid region, where water is first needed for drinking and food preparation. This paper investigates the water quality drained from two green roof systems and one roof with tiles; the physical–chemical parameters were investigated. Rainwater and water percolating separately through each portion of the substrate were analysed. The results show that the water that drains from green roofs has undergone major changes in its parameters, compared to water draining from the conventional roof. It was observed that the change in water quality parameters depends on the vegetation used. In comparison with national standards for water reuse, it was concluded that the water from the green roofs was not suitable for non-potable uses, such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing.

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Notes

  1. With respect to chloride toxicity, WHO (World Health Organization 2003) reported the uncommon occurrence of congestive heart failure in humans.

  2. Regarding the chloride limit set by Embrapa, according to Antas (2011), that limit aims to avoid necrosis and leaf burns.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank FACEPE (Fundação de Amparo a Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco, an agency of the state of Pernambuco for post-graduate education), and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development) and PROPESQI/UFPE (Processo No. 23076.041635/2020-55-Edital Propesqi No. 07/2020) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE, Rua Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, S/N Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50740-530, Brazil

    Sylvana Melo dos Santos

  2. Department of Technology, Academic Center of the Agreste, UFPE, Rodovia BR-104, Km 62, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, 55002-970, Brazil

    Érika Pinto Marinho & Everton Santos de Barros

  3. Postgraduation Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Academic Center of the Agreste, UFPE, Rodovia BR-104, Km 62, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, 55002-970, Brazil

    Glenda Cordeiro de Oliveira Lima

  4. Postgraduation Program in Civil Engineering, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE, Rua Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, S/N Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50740-530, Brazil

    Yan Ranny Machado Gomes

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  1. Sylvana Melo dos Santos
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  2. Érika Pinto Marinho
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Correspondence to Sylvana Melo dos Santos.

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dos Santos, S.M., Marinho, É.P., Lima, G.C.d. et al. Green roof drained rainwater quality assessment: a physicochemical analysis from a case study in Northeastern Brazil. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 8, 106 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-022-00698-x

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