Storm water runoff

After the rain of today and the rain of tonight My mind drifts to storm water runoff.
A vegetated roof allows us to reduce the amount of impervious space we have, especially in our urban environments.
Here is a test we can all do right after a significant rain event. (if your anywhere on the east coast today was a significant rain event!!!)
Go look at a large body of water and make your own opinion on how clean or more likely dirty the water is.
If your in Baltimore go check out the inner harbor tomorrow.
Impervious space allows for 100% of the rain water to become runoff, collecting dirt, trash, oil, gas, and other grime and carrying it directly to bodies of water.
If our buildings had vegetated roofs the impact would be greatly reduced. During normal rain events a vegetated roof will store 75% of the storm water and the other 25% will become runoff but only after hours have passed as it must make it's way through the plants, media, drainage mats, root barriers, and then finally to the roof and roof drainage system.
This can have a massive impact on the health and cleanliness of our water and the Eco systems that depend on it. Oh and don't forget the crabs you ate this summer or the oysters you will have this fall.
It is unrealistic to think we can eliminate the roads and sidewalks that contribute to the mass of impervious space in urban environments but the roof can be our opportunity.
Help us share this idea. Visit us at www.greenroofgiveaway.com and tell a nonprofit about it so they can help us make our community a better place.