Permeable/Porous Pavers

You can reduce the amount of impervious surface area by using permeable pavers or porous pavers in landscaping and driveway design.  A permeable paver is characterized by having a solid surface that allows natural drainage through spaces in between the pavers.  A porous paver is a material with holes in the surface that can be filled with vegetation, aggregate, or synthetic material depending on the need.  Both provide the same advantages as traditional concrete such as support of heavy equipment, flexibility of repair, low maintenance, and exceptional durability.

	Permeable pavers are typically used in parking lots and driveways of either residential or commercial applications
Porous pavers are also used extensively in parking lots and driveways ...
	but they also have uses in larger stormwater treatment such as retention ponds by reducing downstream flooding and erosion. .

When these pavers are incorporated into sidewalks a term known as 'sidewalk storage' refers to the adsorption or infiltration of runoff below the sidewalk. 

There are a wealth of websites devoted to pavers and how best to install them.  Some of those references are listed below.

• Green Parking http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Tool4_Site_Design/GreenParking.htm

• Permeable Pavers NCSU site http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/pavement/lectures.htm PPT, Videos and summary sheets

• Permeable Pavers Checklist http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/pavement/lectures/checklist.pdf

• Permeable Pavers Summary Sheet http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/pavement/lectures/ppsummary.pdf

• Permeable Pavers Hydraulic Design http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/pavement/lectures/hdworksheet.pdf

• Permeable Pavers Structural Design http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/pavement/lectures/strucworksheet.pdf

• Permeable Pavers Kinston NC http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/cont_ed/stormwater/handouts/hannibal.pdf

Another measure includes porous pavement, which can be further broken out into porous cement and porous asphalt.  Although this material has been widely touted as an alternative to regular concrete, it can clog if it's not installed properly or maintained.

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