Water permeable pavement has a high porosity that allows stormwater to flow through it and into the soil below. In essence, imitating the natural process that happens on the ground’s surface. Permeable pavement helps to reduce floods, raise water tables and replenish aquifers. Plus, it traps suspended solids and toxic substances, keeping them from polluting our local waterways.
Alternatively, traditional surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, are hard and impermeable. Consequently, stormwater and surface run-off has nowhere to go. This causes flooding and stormwater pollution.
So, the urbanization of our landscape has had a negative impact on the quantity and quality of run-off water entering our local waterways. Additionally, climate change is accelerating and extreme weather events are becoming more common. Therefore, permeable pavement can be part of the solution.
Common Applications for Water Permeable Pavement
- driveways
- paths and walkways
- patio areas
- swimming pool decks
- tree surrounds
- sidewalks
- cycle-paths
- residential roads
- parking lots
PurePave Permeable Surfacing
PurePave is a revolutionary, eco-friendly and winterized permeable surface solution developed by extensive scientific research and testing via University of Ottawa and the National Research Council of Canada. The combination of a porous base construction and permeable surface allows an incredible amount of water to move freely through the pavement’s porous cavities, while allowing it to expand and contract during frost/thaw cycles. This eliminates the negative heaving effects seen with traditional pavements such as asphalt and interlock. Plus, it’s 6X stronger than asphalt, 1.6X stronger than cement.
To sum up, permeable pavement is a porous, urban surface which allows stormwater and surface run-off to infiltrate into the soil below. Its applications are many, but its potential to counter the negative impacts of the urbanization of our landscape is key. In fact, Low Impact Development (LID) techniques, such as PurePave, have captured the attention of the Ontario Conservation Authority, the City of Toronto and the National Research Council (NRC).
Future urban growth is dependent on the successful management of stormwater with the use of green infrastructure techniques such as permeable pavement. The environmental crises we face are urgent, but we can all rise to the challenge. The next time you pave, consider an innovative, green, water permeable pavement.
Above Image: This stunning PurePave project in Toronto is now a net-zero run-off property!
Click here to read a Toronto Star article about a PurePave, net-zero run-off property in Toronto.
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