Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Matthew RamsayENVR 3750

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

What is Permeable Pavement?

• Paving materials that allow water to ‘permeate’ or pass through it

• Different types of permeable pavement:

• Individual unit paving blocks• Cobblestone bricks allow water to pass through the cracks

• Open cell concrete• Spaces between concrete blocks are widened and filled

with materials which allow for water absorption

• Specialized concrete and asphalt• Less fine material in the mix creates larger voids for water

to pass through• Coarse aggregate materials are used

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

What is Permeable Pavement?

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

What is Permeable Pavement?

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

What is Permeable Pavement?

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Advantages

• Reduces runoff• Infiltration rate: 50-300 inches per hour• Helps to restore the natural water cycle• Mitigates soil erosion

•Decreased levels of pollutants• Filtration• Microorganisms in void spaces

• Evaporative cooling

• LEED points

• Longer lifespan• Up to 50 years• Particularly in freeze/thaw climates

• Practical advantages:• Less plowing needed• Increased traction when wet• Possible reduction in project cost – less need

for traditional storm water management systems

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Advantages

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Limitations

• Unable to support large weight loads• Not appropriate for streets, highways or heavy

loading industrial sites

• Not able to be used in high pollution contaminated areas• Water in these areas should be treated before

re-entering the water system

• Site must be not be too sloped

• Cost• Specialized concrete and asphalt generally

costs more than traditional pavement• Porous asphalt 10-20% more expensive

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Manitoba

• Reduce the impact of surface parking lots or driveways

• Longevity of pavement improved for Manitoba’s freeze / thaw climate

• Important to reduce erosion on the river banks

• Increased green spaces

• Manitoba is flat

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Sources

Permeable Pavement. (2013). Capital Regional District. http:// www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/lid/permeable.htm

Permeable Pavements. (2010). Pavement Interactive. http:// www.pavementinteractive.org/article/permeable-pavements/

Booth, D., Leavitt, J. (1999). Field Evaluation of Permeable Pavement Systems for Improved Stormwater Management. APA Journal 65 (3) p. 314-325.

Brattebo, B., Booth, D. (2003). Long-Term Stormwater Quantity Performance of Permeable Pavement Systems. Water Research 37 p, 4369-4376.

Permeable Pavement. (n.d.). Kitsap County.

Green TechnologyPermeable Pavement

Images

1. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Permeable_paver_demonstration.jpg/300px-Permeable_paver_demonstration.jpg

2. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8vxfr0dW7-o/ThcwAomophI/AAAAAAAAAg8/iI-7C6m7SF8/s1600/permeable-paving-block.jpg

3. http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/hastings.jpg

4. http://www.pavementinteractive.org/article/permeable-pavements/

5. Booth & Leavitt, 1999

6. http://www.ihatewinnipeg.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/parking-in-downtown-winnipeg.jpg