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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Permeability refers to the ability of water to penetrate into the ground. This is important because Earth's water cycle. The ability of ground water and aquifers to recharge relies on this principle. Communities and farms around the world rely on underground water sources for drinking, bathing, watering crops, and other activities.
Places like New Orleans in Louisiana, which were originally built on wetlands, have spent the last few hundred years slowly covering the land with roads, buildings, and parking lots which have disrupted this natural system.
Not only is there less water left for drinking or irrigation, but the land is now sinking, which damages building foundations, or can even cause explosions when gas mains or other infrastructure is damaged by land subsidence.
About This Page
About This Page
This page covers focuses on the solution of permeable pavements to help reduce flooding and increase water security.
Life Expectancy:
Pro: "Permeable pavements add space for infiltration, especially in contexts such as alleyways or against the curbline, where nuisance flooding and other issues must be addressed without sacrificing space for mobility.
Many different types of pervious surface can be applied to different contexts, adding quality and performance to the urban environment." - NATCO
Con: "permeable pavements are often not appropriate for travel surfaces with high volumes, heavy vehicles, or where frequent starting and stopping place additional force on road surface.
Interlocking pavers may settle or buckle, reducing surface smoothness and creating accessibility issues.
Review adjacent surfaces and assess where soil is more likely to erode or be tracked onto the permeable pavement surface (such as from gravel driveways on private property). ..." - NATCO
Solution: "More frequent street vacuuming of those areas may be required to remove sediment.
Permeable street surface requires regular maintenance to remain effective. Develop detailed plans and responsibilities for appropriate cleaning and maintenance of permeable pavements installed in the right-of-way, which may include sweeping, washing, or vacuuming to remove grease, oil, and other sediment." - NATCO
Resources: "Porous ashpalt, pervious concrete, permeable interlocking concrete pavers, and grid pavers provide infiltration of stormwater directly under the street surface, and can be applied on any portion of the street provided appropriate surface and sub-surface conditions." Snow ploughs and street cleaners are needed for maintenance. - NATCO
Benefits of Permeable Pavements
Benefits of Permeable Pavements
Permeable pavements provide several benefits.
Alternatives to Permeable Pavement
Alternatives to Permeable Pavement
Earth Works
Earth Works
This term refers to building or digging the ground into certain configurations for a variety of reasons. In this section we look at types of earthworks which help improve soil permeability, including diverting standing water from waterlogged locations and spreading it more evenly over the landscape for absorbtion.
Plants
Plants
Plants perform a variety of services for our water cycle including cleaning out pollution, reducing erosion and runoff, and respiring water back into the atmosphere. A plant's roots can be a key part of ground infiltration as their roots burrow through the ground, creating channels for water for move along. Similarly, these same roots can help bring water back up within reach of species who would otherwise struggle to survive through the drier months.
Grasses & Wildflowers
Grasses & Wildflowers
In places like Australia and the USA, native plants have been driven towards extinction as European settlers replaced common grassland species with European and African plant varieties to help feed their livestock. As a result the root structure in these grazing lands have suffered due to inapropriately short roots. When these non-native and invasive grasses are replaced with native grasses and flowers once more, the longer roots help the landscape handle long, dry months. The native plants also benefit from seasonal fires, resulting in greener grasslands after seasonal fires.
Check out our Wildflowers page to learn which species of flowers, grasses, and other species are appropriate for your area. Replacing non-native with native species can help reduce water use demand, improve soil permeability and health, while also encouraging the return of native pollinators and other wildlife.
Forests
Forests
Forest cover has been shown to improve ground permeability much like the smaller plants mentioned above. This paper talks about the ability of intermediate forest cover in maximizing aquifer recharge in seasonally dry tropics. Different species of trees may have different impacts in different climate regions, and in a variety of densities.
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel is a good solution for paths and parking areas. Gravel and river rock can also be a good way to reduce weeds in a swale or drainage system, while also reducing soil erosion.
Mulch
Mulch
Mulch can be used to make paths, or places over garden areas to promote water retention in the soil. As it breaks down, mulch adds nutrients and improves the permeability of soils which may be compacted. Particularly heavy clay or loam soils.
For free mulch you may want to contact your local arborist or sign up with buy nothing groups or apps like Chip Drop.
Chip Drop "We help gardeners get free wood chip mulch deliveries. We also help arborists find cheap, local drop sites for their wood chips and logs."
Additions to Permeable Pavement
Additions to Permeable Pavement
Permeable Drains
Permeable Drains
Companies
Companies
IndiMart: U Shape Drain offers very deep drains for monsoon type rain events, with covered top. There are holes in the covers to allow water infiltration, while letting people walk safely on top.
Sand
Sand
Resources
Resources
Use these resources to help understand, design, and implement your own permeable pavement project.
Drainage Program Guide Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Best Management Practice: Permeable Pavement (PDF) This document was specifically designed for the City of Detroit, and mentions local credit schemes, but the rest of the information is still useful regardless of location.
Montgomery County RainScapes: Residential Permeable Pavement (PDF)
Porous Asphalt Pavements with Stone Reservoirs (PDF) "This Technical Brief provides an overview of the benefits, limitations and applications of porous asphalt pavements with stone reservoirs. Considerations for design and construction, as well as maintenance, are discussed."
Organizations
Organizations
North America
North America
USA
USA
Virginia
Friends of the Rappahannock "All our efforts work together to achieve our mission to be the voice and active force for a healthy and scenic Rappahannock River."
Maps
Maps
North America
North America
USA
USA
Stormwater Management and Restoration Tracking (SMART) Tool (Interactive) Tool tracks storm water management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed which spans, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
Ground Water Maps
Ground Water Maps
Understanding your local geological and hydrological conditions can help determine if a community should be focusing on increasing permeability, or if other water management methods would be more practical. Some aquifers are still in good condition, while others need significant assistance if they are going to support us and our descendants.
International
International
Trends in Groundwater Storage, 2003-2013 & Changes in Storage vs. Aquifer Stress "Aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock from which groundwater can be extracted with water wells. About 30% of all of the world’s freshwater resources are located in aquifers.
Data from NASA’s program was revealed in a recent study, which concluded that 21 of the 37 largest aquifers (57%) are running out too fast to be replenished. Even more concerning: an additional 13 are declining at a rate that puts them in a category NASA calls the “most troubled”."World Atlas of Desertification: Groundwater From the European Commission, Joint Research Center, World Atlas of Desertification
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