Monday, March 25, 2013

Permeable Pavers

Permeable Pavers 
By: Andrew Ewing

Location: Westmoreland Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon

Credits: Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Water, and Transportation

Where/How did you find it: Web Search http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/77074#study?

Why did you select this one: I have seen the use of permeable pavers for parking lots and driveways. I found it very interesting that Portland would attempt to use them on actual streets. Paving three blocks of streets in a residential neighborhood, seems like a good way to test the durability of this idea.

Brief description: This project began in 2004, and consisted of the repaving of three streets in a residential neighborhood in Portland. This was the first time permeable pavers were used as an actual street surface in Portland. There was a total of about 1000 feet of street repaved with this surface. They tried three different situations:

Street one was paved curb-to-curb with permeable blocks.

Street two was paved with a center strip of standard asphalt and permeable pavement in both curb lanes.

Street three was paved curb to curb with standard asphalt.

Typically a road drains the water into a storm water pipe, treats it, and discharges it to a surface stream. The permeable pavers instead allow the water to infiltrate the ground and allow a more natural approach to treating the water.

“Portland uses several innovative approaches to reduce the amount of storm water that flows through sewer pipes and discharges to rivers and streams. Approaches include downspout disconnection, vegetated infiltration areas, constructed wetlands, increased tree canopy, eco-roofs, green streets, and permeable pavement.” By doing all these things the, Portland is hoping to reduce traditional methods and improve water quality in a more natural way.

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