Go with the flow: Stormwater management

It’s time to go with the flow.

 

The use of pervious pavement technologies is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a stormwater best management practice (BMP). Why? Because these systems allow stormwater and snow melt to drain through, reducing run-off volume, rate and pollutants.

 

In fact, when included in the design phase of a project, porous pavements can reduce or eliminate the need for costly stormwater retention systems.

 

Modern pervious paving technologies are cost-effective, durable, easy to install and good for the environment. Some even lend an aesthetic flair.

 

Let’s explore the different types.

 

Test Your Knowledge: Pervious Pavement Technologies

 

The National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the National Asphalt Pavement Association have each put together a lot of information on pervious pavement. Take the quiz to test your knowledge!

 

 

Pervious Asphalt vs. Permeable Concrete

Fast Facts: Pervious Asphalt

 

• 1

  Standard hot-mix asphalt with reduced sand or fines leaves stable air pockets in the asphalt, allowing water to drain through.

• 2

  The interconnected void space allows stormwater to flow through the asphalt and enter a crushed stone aggregate bedding layer and base that supports the asphalt while providing storage and runoff treatment.

• 3

  Can be used in place of traditional impervious pavement for most applications, particularly pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and low-volume roadways.

• 4

  Porous asphalt is the surface layer of the permeable pavement structure and consists of open-graded coarse aggregate, bonded together by bituminous asphalt.

• 5

  Polymers can be added to the mix to increase strength for heavy load applications.

• 6

  The thickness of porous asphalt ranges from two to four inches depending on the expected traffic loads.

• 7

  For adequate permeability, the porous asphalt should have a minimum of 16% air voids.

• 8

  According to the EPA, 'when properly constructed, porous asphalt is a durable and cost competitive alternative to conventional asphalt.'

 

Fast Facts: Permeable Concrete

 

• 1

  Like pervious asphalt, concrete with reduced sand or fines leave stable air pockets inside the concrete, allowing water to drain through.

• 2

  Total void space is typically between 15% and 35%, with the average being 20 percent.

• 3

  The void space allows stormwater to flow through the concrete and enter a crushed stone aggregate bedding layer and base that supports the concrete while providing storage and runoff treatment.

• 4

  The light color of concrete is cooler than conventional asphalt and helps to reduce urban temperatures and improve air quality.

• 5

  Pervious concrete is the surface layer of a permeable pavement structure and consists of Portland cement, open-graded coarse aggregate (typically 5/8 to 3/8 inch), and water.

• 6

  Admixtures are added to the mixture to enhance strength, increase setting time, or meet other performance parameters.

• 7

  The thickness of pervious concrete ranges from four to eight inches depending on the expected traffic loads.

• 8

  According to the EPA, 'When properly constructed, pervious concrete is durable, low maintenance, and has a low lifecycle cost.'

Product Focus: Recycled Glass Aggregate

Top of the Class

• The system will provide infiltration of storm water even under excessive sediment loading
• On a 25 year design storm (8.4 inches/hr) in Florida, a 33% reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen was achieved
• The average compressive strength of ELASTOPAVE is 1160 psi and its flexural strength is 508 psi
• The porosity of ELASTOPAVE was determined to be 39%, maintaining the highest sustainable void space of any porous pavement system

 

 

ELASTOPAVE Glass Series

Made with a blend of 50% post-consumer recycled glass, 50% regionally sourced stone, and a proprietary pigmented binder developed by BASF, it's designed for pedestrian and light vehicular traffic loads. It is a poured-in-place, highly reflective, colorful porous paving system that gives you unmatched design flexibility.

 

 

ELASTOPAVE Stone Series

Made with either 100% regionally sourced stone, or 80% stone and 20% glass, it is a poured-in place pervious pavement that handles pedestrian and vehicular traffic loads. Highly reflective and variant-colored natural stone enhances and differentiates your landscape designs with rich earth tones.

 

Did you know?

Recycled glass pervious pavements are twice as porous as other hard-surfaced porous pavements (38%), resulting in a greater reduction of stormwater runoff and better resistance to clogging and maintenance requirements.

 

Roughly 90 beverage bottles are used in just one square foot of ELASTOPAVE^® pavement. The use of recycled materials not only helps divert waste from landfill, but these technologies are also effective at reducing heat island effect (solar reflective index: 29).