Permeable pavers allow water to filter through to the soils underneath and help to reduce the number of pollutants running into the stormwater system. Depending on design, paving material, soil type, rainfall, permeable paving can infiltrate as much as 70 percent to 80 percent of annual rainfall. Using permeable pavers can preserve the quality of the City’s water, and increase the quantity of good quality water. Permeable pavers allow rainwater to be absorbed by the ground underneath, and are still able to provide a stable enough surface for vehicles. In the residential setting permeable pavers can be used in driveways and in patios.
Types of Permeable Pavers: - Grass pavers: plastic grids that have vegetation planted in the holes or voids.
- Mulches: used to create a permeable surface, such as sod, gravel and bark.
- Porous concrete: has pores or small holes, which are formed in the special mixture of concrete.
- Interlocking concrete pavers: concrete grids filled in with some sort of pervious material, such as sand, gravel, mulch or vegetation.
The soils in Rockville are highly compacted and need to be amended before laying permeable pavers. It is important to have a firm understanding of your drainage and soil conditions before laying your permeable pavers. Below are some websites to get you started with your project.
Links to permeable paver information: |
