Mississauga Looks to Blue Roof Technology to Mitigate Flood Risks and Harvest Rainwater
As climate change brings more extreme weather patterns, the City of Mississauga is exploring innovative solutions to combat flooding and enhance rainwater harvesting. Recent heavy rainfall events have underscored the urgency for effective drainage solutions, leading city officials to look toward blue roof technology as a viable option for reducing flood risk and mitigating infrastructure damage.
Recent Flooding Highlights Urgent Need for Solutions
Over the past few months, Mississauga has faced significant flooding that has caused extensive damage to both public and private properties. This degradation not only impacts homes and businesses but can also disrupt essential services such as transit and electricity. The ramifications of ongoing flooding extend beyond immediate damage; it can lead to soil erosion, harm local ecosystems, and contaminate critical drinking water sources, including nearby Lake Ontario.
Given these challenges, city planners are advocating for blue roofs, which are specifically designed to capture and retain rainwater. Unlike conventional roofs that utilize gravity to move water off the surface, blue roofs provide a water detainment system that can help control stormwater runoff. By doing so, they significantly lessen the volume of water that flows into city stormwater infrastructure, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.
Understanding Blue Roofs and Their Benefits
Blue roofs are an advanced form of urban stormwater management technology. They allow buildings to retain a certain volume of rainwater, mitigating the impact of heavy rainfall events. During storage, this rainwater can evaporate, providing cooling benefits to the building, while some can be treated for reuse in irrigation or toilet flushing.
With Mississauga’s rainfall forecasts projecting increased precipitation and storm activities, adopting sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting can alleviate the pressure on the city’s stormwater system. This not only safeguards water quality but also protects natural habitats and the community’s infrastructure.
Pioneering Initiatives in Smart Blue Roof Technology
Mississauga has taken bold steps in this area with its recent implementation of Canada’s first-ever smart blue roof in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). Located at CVC’s administration building (1255 Old Derry Rd.), this cutting-edge system can control and store up to 60,000 litres of rainwater.
The smart blue roof employs programmable logic control technology and a network of sensors to determine how to best utilize captured rainwater. Based on various conditions, it can either hold water until it evaporates, drain it for non-potable uses, or release it gradually into the municipal stormwater system when conditions are dry.
CVC has reported impressive preliminary findings during the roof’s first operational season, including:
- Success in capturing and retaining rainwater from all storm events between May and October 2024.
- An astounding 51% of the collected water evaporated, providing cooling to the building.
- Approximately 42% of the captured rainwater was treated and reused for toilet flushing, with only 7% having to be released back into the municipal system during dry weather.
These promising results have earned the initiative a 2025 Clean50 Top Project Award, showcasing its potential to inspire similar projects throughout Peel Region and across Canada.
Differentiating Between Green and Blue Roofs
While blue roofs focus primarily on stormwater management, green roofs offer additional environmental benefits, such as air purification and habitat creation. Traditional green roofs include layers of soil and vegetation, which provide insulation and assist with water retention, but blue roofs serve a unique purpose by specifically addressing water management challenges.
Future Prospects for Blue Roof Implementation
Mississauga’s pioneering approach to implementing a CSA-compliant smart blue roof system exemplifies the city’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience. Both Mississauga and CVC are working collaboratively to enhance community preparedness for future weather events, illustrating the importance of innovative solutions like blue roofs in modern urban planning.
As climate patterns continue to evolve, widespread adoption of blue roof technology presents a promising avenue for mitigating flood impacts and maximizing rainwater reuse in the community. For more information on Mississauga’s smart blue roof project and ongoing environmental initiatives, residents are encouraged to visit the city or CVC’s websites.
Contact Information
For media inquiries, please contact:
City of Mississauga Media Relations
Email: media@mississauga.ca
Phone: 905-615-3200, ext. 5232
TTY: 905-896-5151
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This initiative is just one of the many steps Mississauga is taking to adapt to climate change and promote sustainable practices in urban development. The city’s forward-thinking approach serves as a model for other municipalities grappling with similar challenges.
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