Permeable paving

Conceptual diagram illustrating an adjustable storage underdrain configuration beneath permeable interlocking pavers

Overview

Permeable paving allows stormwater to drain through the surface and into a stone reservoir, where it infiltrates into the underlying native soil or is temporarily detained.

The following are different types of permeable paving:

• Permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP)
• Plastic or concrete grid systems
• Pervious concrete
• Pervious asphalt

Permeable paving is ideal for:

• Sites with limited space for other surface stormwater BMPs
• Projects such as low traffic roads, parking lots, driveways, pedestrian plazas and walkways

The fundamental components of a permeable paving system are:

• interlocking blocks with infiltration spaces between
• Precast pervious slabs or pavers
• a cast in place surface without fines, so that the finish is pervious to water
• a bedding course to stabilize the surface
• underground storage layer of aggregate

Additional components may include:

• an underdrain system

Planning considerations

Permeable pavements are surfaces that encourage infiltration. They can be used in place of conventional asphalt or concrete pavement. These alternatives contain pores, spaces and joints for allowing stormwater to pass through to a stone base, where it infiltrates into underlying native soils or is temporarily detained. Types of permeable pavement include:

• Pervious concrete
• Porous asphalt
• Permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP, or just permeable pavers)

Geometry and Site Layout

Parking lot with perforated pavers in stalls only, Singapore

Permeable paving can be used for entire parking lot areas or driveways and can be designed to receive runoff from adjacent impervious surfaces. For example, the parking spaces in a parking lot may be permeable pavers while the drive lanes themselves are impervious asphalt. In general, the impervious area should not exceed the area of the permeable paving which receives the runoff. A hybrid permeable paving/infiltration chamber design can feature connection of a roof downspout directly to the stone reservoir of the permeable paving system, which is sized to store runoff from both the pavement surface and the roof drainage area.

Pretreatment

In most designs, the surface acts as pretreatment to the stone reservoir below. Periodic vacuum sweeping and preventative measures like not storing snow or other materials on the pavement are critical to prevent clogging. Another pretreatment element is to have a choking layer above the coarse gravel storage reservoir.

Landscaping

Landscaped areas must drain away from permeable paving to prevent sediments from running onto the surface. Urban trees will benefit from being surrounded by permeable paving rather than impervious cover, because their roots receive more air and water. Interlocking pavers used around the base of a tree may be removed as the tree grows.

Risk of Groundwater Contamination

• Stormwater infiltration practices should not receive runoff from high traffic areas where large amounts of de-icing salts are applied (e.g., busy highways), nor from pollution hot spots (e.g., source areas where land uses or activities have the potential to generate highly contaminated runoff such as vehicle fuelling, servicing or demolition areas, outdoor storage or handling areas for hazardous materials and some heavy industry sites)
• Prioritize infiltration of runoff from source areas that are comparatively less contaminated such as roofs, low traffic roads and parking areas
• Apply sedimentation pretreatment practices (e.g., oil and grit separators) before infiltration of road or parking area runoff

Heavy Vehicle Traffic

Permeable paving is not typically used in locations subject to heavy loads. However, some permeable pavers are designed for heavy loads and have been used in commercial port loading and storage areas.

Setbacks from Buildings

Permeable paving should be located downslope from building foundations. If the paving does not receive runoff from other surfaces, no setback is required from building foundations. Otherwise, a minimum setback of 4 m down-gradient from building foundations is recommended.

On Private Property

If permeable paving systems are installed on private lots, property owners or managers will need education on their routine maintenance needs, understanding the long-term maintenance plan. They may also be subject to a legally binding maintenance agreement. An incentive program, such as a storm sewer user fee based on the area of impervious cover on a property that is directly connected to a storm sewer, could be used to encourage property owners or managers to maintain existing practices.

Design

Sizing stone reservoirs

The stone reservoir must meet both runoff storage and structural support requirements. The bottom of the reservoir should be level so that water infiltrates evenly.
If the system is not designed for infiltration, the bottom should slope at 1 - 5% toward the underdrain.

Permeable paving: Sizing

Modeling permeable paving in the Treatment Train Tool

Permeable paving: TTT

Gallery

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  Porous asphalt, Coultice Park, Whitchurch-Stoufville, ON

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  Laneways retrofit program, Toronto ON

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  Permeable concrete at Lakeside Park, Mississauga ON

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  Permeable pavers on residential driveways, Brampton ON

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  Permeable pavers on a shared street, Georgetown ON

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  Permeable pavers in parking bays, Mississauga ON (note inspection of bioretention occurring in the background)

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  Although this permeable pavement at Belfountain Conservation Area was not maintained, it remains structurally sound after over 30 years of constant use.

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  Pre-cast pervious concrete slab.

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  Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) on a narrow road between buildings in Chicago (Source: ICPI)

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  Different colours of permeable pavers in parking lot, CVC headquarters, Mississauga ON

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  Crews pour pervious concrete into a parking lot (Source: Washington State Dept of Transportation on Flickr)

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  Inspection wells should be located at the edges or even off the side of permeable pavement areas

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  Water quality sampling in permeable pavement study, Mississauga ON

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  Porous asphalt parking lot (Source: Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership)

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  Placement of permeable pavers during construction.

Materials

Consult the manufacturer for the design specifications of their product. In pervious concrete and porous asphalt systems, the concrete or asphalt mix specifications and construction procedures are key to proper functioning. These systems require well-trained and experienced contractors for installation.
Specifications

Aggregates

Most OPSS aggregates are not recommended for use in permeable paving systems. Choker layer Reservoir aggregate

Geotextile

Geotextiles are not always necessary and may be prone to clogging. Consider using courses of finer aggregates or sand instead.

Landscaping

Landscaped areas must drain away from permeable paving to prevent sediment from running onto the surface.
Urban trees benefit from being surrounded by permeable pavement rather than impervious cover, because their roots receive more air and water. Block pavers around the base of a tree can be removed as the tree grows.

Performance

Starting after TRIECA (end March) members of STEP will be undertaking a literature review on the performance of our most popular BMPs. The results will be combined with the information we have to date from the development of the Treatment Train Tool and agreed performance metrics established. Until then, please feel free to continue to ask questions via email or the feedback box below.

Permeable pavers can be classified into two categories according to the infiltration rate of the underlying subsoil:

• Full Infiltration: Full infiltration designs are more effective, because little if any of the pollutants generated on the impermeable surfaces leave the site as surface runoff
• Partial Infiltration: Partial infiltration designs with underdrains generate more runoff

Studies in North Carolina have shown the average curve number of permeable pavements to range from a low of 45 to a high of 89.
Partial infiltration designs with underdrains generate more runoff, and as a result, are often used in studies investigating the water quality impact of permeable pavements on surface waters. These studies show load reductions above 50% for total suspended solids, most metals and hydrocarbons
As with all stormwater infiltration practices, risk of groundwater contamination from infiltration of runoff laden with road de-icing salt constituents (typically sodium and chloride) is a significant concern. Chloride ions are extremely mobile in the soil and are readily transported by percolating water to aquifers.

Construction Considerations

Construction of permeable pavement is a specialized project and should involve experienced contractors. The following general recommendations apply:

• Sediment Control: The treatment area should be fully protected during construction so that no sediment reaches the permeable pavement system and proper erosion and sediment controls must be maintained on site.
• Weather: Porous asphalt and pervious concrete will not properly pour and set in extremely high or low temperatures . One benefit to using permeable pavers is that their installation is not weather dependent.
• Pavement placement: Properly installed permeable pavement requires trained and experienced producers and construction contractors.

Inspection and Maintenance

Permeable pavements require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure proper functioning. The limiting factor for permeable pavers is clogging within the aggregate layers, filler, or underdrain. Ideally, signs should be posted on the site identifying permeable paver and porous pavement areas. This can also serve as a public awareness and education opportunity. See: Permeable paving: Maintenance

Life cycle costs

Initial construction costs for permeable pavements are typically higher than conventional asphalt pavement surfaces, largely due to thicker aggregate base needed for stormwater storage. However, the cost difference is reduced or eliminated when total life-cycle costs, or the total cost to construct and maintain the pavement over its lifespan, are considered. Other potential savings and benefits include reduced need for storm sewer pipes and other stormwater practices, less developable land consumed for stormwater treatment, and ancillary benefits (improved aesthetics and reduced urban heat island effect). These systems are especially cost effective in existing urban development where parking lot expansion is needed, but there is not sufficient space for other types of BMPs. They combine parking, stormwater infiltration, retention, and detention into one facility. See also: Cost analysis resources

Proprietary Links

In our effort to make this guide as functional as possible, we have decided to include proprietary systems and links to manufacturers websites.
Inclusion of such links does not constitute endorsement by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program.
Lists are ordered alphabetically; link updates are welcomed using the form below.

Pre-cast

• Eco-Optioc, Unilock
• Enviro Pavers, Oaks
• Hydropavers pervious pavers
• Pavedrain, distributed by Nilex
• Terra flo, Santerra
• Stormcrete pervious pavers

Poured in place

• Hydromedia

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A perforated pipe used to assist the draining of soils.

An alternative practice to traditional impervious pavement, prevents the generation of runoff by allowing precipitation falling on the surface to infiltrate through the surface course into an underlying stone reservoir and, where suitable conditions exist, into the native soil.

An underlying bed filled with aggregate or other void-forming fill material that temporarily stores stormwater before infiltrating into the native soil or being conveyed by an underdrain pipe.

The natural ground material characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin.

An alternative practice to traditional impervious pavement, prevents the generation of runoff by allowing precipitation falling on the surface to infiltrate through the surface course into an underlying stone reservoir and, where suitable conditions exist, into the native soil.

A mixture of mineral aggregates bound with bituminous materials, used in the construction and maintenance of paved surfaces.

Soil particles with a diameter less than 0.050 mm.

A broad category of particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates, and available in various particulate size gradations.

The slow movement of water into or through a soil or drainage system.

Penetration of water through the ground surface.

An alternative practice to traditional impervious pavement, prevents the generation of runoff by allowing precipitation falling on the surface to infiltrate through the surface course into an underlying stone reservoir and, where suitable conditions exist, into the native soil.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

A hard surface area (e.g., road, parking area or rooftop) that prevents or retards the infiltration of water into the soil.

The total surface area upstream of a point on a stream that drains toward that point. Not to be confused with watershed. The drainage area may include one or more watersheds.

Initial capturing and removal of unwanted contaminants, such as debris, sediment, leaves and pollutants, from stormwater before reaching a best management practice; Examples include, settling forebays, vegetated filter strips and gravel diaphragms.

Initial capturing and removal of unwanted contaminants, such as debris, sediment, leaves and pollutants, from stormwater before reaching a best management practice; Examples include, settling forebays, vegetated filter strips and gravel diaphragms.

An underlying bed filled with aggregate or other void-forming fill material that temporarily stores stormwater before infiltrating into the native soil or being conveyed by an underdrain pipe.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

Deposition of material of varying size, both mineral and organic away from its site of origin by the action of water, wind, gravity or ice.

Settling-out or deposition of particulate matter suspended in runoff.

The total mass of a pollutant entering a waterbody over a defined time period.

The net amount of something (e.g. chemical, such as phosphorus), calculated as the product of concentration and volume in a given time. Some BMPs significantly reduce loading of pollutants to the environment by reducing volume more so than concentration.

Land owned by private individuals or companies.

Credit Valley Conservation

A broad category of particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates, and available in various particulate size gradations.

Filter fabric that is installed to separate dissimilar soils and provide runoff filtration and contaminant removal benefits while maintaining a suitable rate of flow; may be used to prevent fine-textured soil from entering a coarse granular bed, or to prevent coarse granular from being compressed into underlying finer-textured soils.

A broad category of particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates, and available in various particulate size gradations.

Mineral particles which are smaller than 2 mm, and which are free of appreciable quantities of clay and silt. Coarse sand usually designates sand grains with particle size between 0.2 and 0.02 mm.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program

The rate at which stormwater percolates into the subsoil measured in inches per hour.

The slow movement of water into or through a soil or drainage system.

Penetration of water through the ground surface.

Layer of rock or soil that holds or transmits water.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

The temporary storage of stormwater to control discharge rates, and allow for sedimentation.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

Human application of water to agricultural or recreational land for watering purposes. City of Toronto Wet Weather Flow Management November 2006 47