Protecting Westlake Village’s Waters: How Eco-Friendly Roofing Practices Safeguard Our Lake Watershed
Nestled in the scenic Malibu Creek Watershed, Westlake Village faces unique environmental challenges that demand innovative solutions. The City lies within the drainage boundary of the Malibu Creek Watershed. Nearly all the City’s land drains into Westlake Lake and Triunfo Creek ultimately leading to Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon, and the mighty Pacific Ocean. This interconnected water system means that every roofing decision made by property owners has a direct impact on the health of our local waterways.
The Critical Connection: Roofs and Water Quality
Water draining into the streets goes directly to the lake and creeks via the storm drain system and can pick up pollutants along the way. Traditional roofing materials and practices can contribute significantly to watershed pollution through stormwater runoff. When it rains, chemical roof cleaners wash directly into storm drains and natural waterways. This toxic runoff raises chlorine levels in ponds and streams, killing fish, amphibians, and beneficial microorganisms. Just one roof cleaning can contaminate thousands of gallons of water.
For homeowners seeking professional roofing westlake village services, understanding these environmental impacts is crucial for making responsible choices that protect our precious lake ecosystem.
Green Roofing: Nature’s Solution to Urban Runoff
Green roofs, also known as vegetated roofs, are an effective stormwater management practice for improving urban sustainability. The Pennsylvania Stormwater Manual recommends vegetated roofs (green roofs) as an effective stormwater best management practice (BMP), highlighting their role in reducing runoff volume and peak discharge rates.
Somewhere between 40 and 80 percent of the total volume of rain that falls on green roofs can be retained. This remarkable capacity for water retention means that green roofs can significantly reduce the burden on Westlake Village’s storm drainage system while filtering pollutants before they reach our waterways.
Green infrastructure improves water quality by decreasing the amount of stormwater that reaches waterways and by removing contaminants from the water that does. Soil and plants help capture and remove pollutants from stormwater in a variety of ways, including adsorption (when pollutants stick to soil or plants), filtration (when particulate matter gets trapped), plant uptake (when vegetation absorbs nutrients from the ground), and the decomposition of organic matter.
Cool Roofing: Reflecting Heat, Protecting Waters
There are many types of roof systems available, but the surface solar reflectance of the roofing product—the outermost layer of the roof exposed to the sun is, also known as the roof covering—determines whether the roof is cool or not. There are cool options for nearly all types of roof coverings.
A cool roof is made of a material or has a coating that can lower the roof surface temperature, decreasing the amount of heat transferred into a residential or commercial building. Beyond energy savings, cool roofing systems contribute to watershed protection by reducing the urban heat island effect, which can impact local weather patterns and water temperatures.
White roofing products stay coolest in the sun, reflecting about 60 – 90% of sunlight. This high reflectivity not only reduces cooling costs but also minimizes thermal pollution that can affect aquatic ecosystems when heated runoff enters waterways.
Sustainable Roofing Materials and Practices
Modern eco-friendly roofing extends beyond green roofs and cool surfaces. Eco-friendly roof cleaning methods use biodegradable ingredients that effectively clean your roof without harming the environment. Unlike traditional cleaners containing harsh chemicals, green solutions won’t contaminate soil or waterways, protecting local ecosystems.
Environmental benefits include preventing an estimated 30-40 gallons of chemical runoff per cleaning session from entering local watersheds. For a community like Westlake Village, where water quality is paramount, these practices can make a substantial difference in protecting our lake ecosystem.
Royal Roofing: A Partner in Environmental Stewardship
When selecting a roofing contractor for eco-friendly solutions, experience and commitment to quality matter. As a family-owned and operated business, we focus on building long-term relationships that span generations. After decades in business, our values haven’t changed. We still—and always will—believe in doing the job right and standing behind our work.
Steve Pinkus, President and CEO of Royal Roofing since 1995, brings nearly four decades of hands-on experience to our company. With more than $75 million in roofing, restoration, and repair sales, he leads with a deep commitment to quality construction and total customer satisfaction. This level of experience ensures that eco-friendly roofing installations are executed with the precision necessary to maximize their environmental benefits.
The Long-Term Benefits of Sustainable Roofing
They intercept stormwater before it runs off a roof, which addresses the stormwater issue at the source rather than after the runoff has been collected. Penn State research suggests that a typical extensive green roof of 3.5 inches in depth will reduce the volume of runoff by about 55% in central Pennsylvania and attenuate the peak runoff rates to the level of the pre-development land use.
However, green methods extend roof lifespan by up to 7 years by preventing material degradation caused by harsh chemicals. Additionally, biodegradable cleaners reduce maintenance frequency to once every 2-3 years compared to annual chemical treatments, resulting in 40% savings over a 10-year period for most homeowners.
Taking Action for Westlake Village’s Future
The City of Westlake Village believes that protecting and enhancing our local water quality is of great importance. As residents and property owners, we share this responsibility. By choosing eco-friendly roofing practices—whether through green roofs, cool roofing materials, or sustainable maintenance approaches—we contribute to the preservation of our unique lake ecosystem.
The path forward requires collaboration between knowledgeable contractors, environmentally conscious property owners, and local regulations that support watershed protection. With proper implementation of these eco-friendly roofing practices, Westlake Village can serve as a model for how communities can balance development with environmental stewardship, ensuring that our beautiful lake remains a centerpiece of our community for generations to come.