The intent of this design is to increase vegetative coverage by at least 50% to capture more rainfall, improve urban heat island effect, and improve aesthetic value. As well as to diversify plant pallet for an increase in biodiversity as well as aesthetic improvement, to ensure that the new bed designs still allow access to equipment that are necessary for daily operation, and to ensure that the bed designs are accessible to all.
Cincinnati has dealt with the effects of combined sewer overflows for decades. Although overflow levels are steadily improving, there is still more to be done. Since 2002, the city has been attempting to renovate their old system to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act. This has proved extremely costly and difficult to complete with over 3,000 miles of public sewers with the antiquated combined sewer overflow system. Green roofs have become a proven tool in reducing combined sewer overflows. This project aims to explain how a municipal sewer district can promote the reduction of stormwater runoff through native plant landscaping and green roof education.
In 2010, the Metropolitan Sewer District, the agency responsible for waste water treatment in the Greater Cincinnati area, installed a green roof on one of their Mill Creek Plant buildings, however, it has been neglected and is not reaching its full potential. Through research on green roof’s effects on combined sewer overflow, an improved green roof design, and educational signage this study aims to create an educational, visually pleasing, native focused, and functional green roof that still allows employees ease of access to necessary equipment. MSD can encourage an increase of green roofs throughout the city and this study creates a comprehensive plan to use green roofs as a promotional tool.