PERMEABLE/POROUS PAVING BLOG
Photo Credit: NAPA - HotMix.org
What the heck is the difference in permeable and porous pavement? While there are differences in the technical definition of permeable and porous, these terms are actually interchangeable in regards to pavement. They are especially well-suited for parking lots, walkways, and sidewalks in a variety of commercial developments.
Your parking lot could provide you with a high return on investment, years of durability, potential grants or tax breaks, and help the environment simultaneously.
Permeable pavement provides the structural support of conventional pavement, but allows stormwater to drain directly through the surface which is load-bearing into the underlying surface, consisting of stone base and soils. This intercepts and reduces stormwater runoff. During a rain event, stormwater flows through the porous surface, drains into the crushed stone sub-base beneath the pavement, and then remains stored temporarily. The storage time depends on the soil properties. The stormwater can infiltrate into the soil or outlet through the underdrain.
How long can this sustainable paving solution last? Is it too good to be true? The truth is porous asphalt pavement can last up to twenty years before showing cracks or potholes! From playgrounds to high-volume highways that carry heavy trucks, it is certainly an attractive alternative to traditional impervious asphalt paving.
Standby for the next blog on how it can save money by eliminating the need for a detention pond!
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