<p>Many green roofs receive only rainwater, which is relatively clean upon interception. As such these green roofs may actually contribute contamination, most notably in nutrient leaching during early establishment. In dense urban centres, green roofs are increasingly being used to receive irrigation from harvested rainwater. Current Ontario Building Code permits the use of rooftop runoff to be reused in this manner, so long as it is 'free of solids'.</p>
<p> Where rainwater is harvested and reused to irrigate a green roof, there is no significant discharge of stormwater from the system, and no loading of contaminants downstream.</p>