Permeable Pavers & Pavement

Green solutions to water pollution!

In suburban and urban communities the natural landscape is steadily replaced with buildings, roads, parking lots, and other hard surface that shed water. As the amount of hard surfaces continue to increase in communities, so does the volume of water that results in stormwater runoff. Flash floods, erosion,and water pollution are the result.

By using green solutions like permeable pavers that help restore the built environments' ability to absorb more stormwater, we can improve our region's water quality.

Permeable pavers, permeable concrete and asphalt provides a solid ground surface, strong enough to take heavy loads, like large vehicles, while at the same time they allow water to filter through the surface and reach the underlying soils. Permeable pavers are also ideal for patios, sidewalks, and driveways. The voids in the surface of the paving allow water to drain through and into the soil beneath.

Benefits of Permeable Pavers & Permeable Concrete
• Reduces polluted runoff from rain water by as much as 100% depending on project design parameters; eliminates surface puddles and local flooding
• Reduces polluted runoff, thereby mitigating impact on surrounding surface waters, and reduces downstream flooding and stream bank erosion
• Minimizes impacts and stress on existing storm sewer systems through reduced peak discharges
• Maximizes groundwater recharge and/or storage
• Promotes street tree survival
• Reduces heat island effect and thermal loading on surrounding surface waters
• Snow melts faster on permeable pavement and drains, reducing winter ice hazards, deicing salt use, and snow removal costs
• Decreases project cost by reducing drainage and retention/detention systems
• Reduces cost of compliance with stormwater regulatory requirements
• Allows better land-used planning and more efficient use of available land for greater economic value, especially in high-density, urban areas
• Complements buildings and visually unifies streetscape; many styles and colors available

While there are many different materials commercially available, permeable pavers and pavement are divided into three basic types:

1. interlocking concrete paving blocks or grid pavers
2. porous concrete, and
3. porous bituminous asphalt