Best Management Practices Fact Sheet

Though permeable paving materials have been in existence since the 1970s, their implementation has been slow, due predominantly to unfamiliarity with correct procedure, leading to 1. (above) faulty installation, and a subsequently high rate of failure. However, with proper installation and maintenance, these systems can be very effective and long-lasting. Key design factors impervious to ensure paving materials PURPOSE: Porous asphalt used in place of traditional optimum pollutant removal and longevity include: decreases the total amount of runoff leaving a site, promotes infiltration of runoff into

Porous Asphalt

Proceed with Caution!

Porous Asphalt Installation

Conventional asphalt Porous asphalt

Site is excavated.

the ground, reduces the amount of pollutants carried to a storm drain or waterway, Placement in areas with highly permeable and aids with reducing peak runoff velocity and soils; volume. if underlying soil is damp, microbiological decomposition Developing of pollutants land for may residential, be impeded commercial and industrial use carries the detrimental 3. (above) Stone is spread and effect Existence of vastly increasing of organic the material amount in soil of impervious surface area as land is paved to Filters contaminants from runoff prior to its graded level. create Vacuum roads and sweeping parking on lots. a quarterly During a schedule storm, runoff flows over impervious pavement, discharge to the storm sewer system picking Use up in pollutants low-density such parking as dirt,areas grease and oil, and transports these contaminants Reduces peak velocity and volume of stormwater to streams Restrictions and storm on use sewer bysystems. heavy vehicles runoff delivered to storm sewer system 4. (above) Stone is rolled. Limited use of de-icing chemicals Can alleviate flooding downstream In response to this issue, designers developed porous paving systems that allow Inspection and enforcement of specifications Applicable to all types of sites (residential/ runoffduring to pass through the pavement into a stone base, then into the soil below to construction commercial/industrial) recharge the groundwater supply. With proper installation and maintenance, porous Pretreatment of runoff to paved area Recharges groundwater supply paving allows for infiltration of up to 80% of annual runoff volume. Additionally, studies Implementation of a sediment control plan Reduces total amount of impervious cover indicate that porous paving systems can remove between 65 and 85 percent of 5. (above) Asphalt is laid. Extending the depth of reservoir level to below Allows for land use in areas that otherwise would undissolved nutrients from runoff and up to 95% sediment from runoff. the frost line to prevent subgrade from frostof heave not meet stormwater retention guidelines 6. (right) Silt fence borders area to Requires less need for curbing and storm sewers The design for application of porous asphalt consists of at least four layers: a two protect asphalt from debris and Provides better traction in icy conditions than sediment. to four-inch layer of asphalt, a one to two-inch filter layer of half-inch crushed traditional asphalt aggregate, a 12-inch minimum reservoir layer of one to three-inch aggregate,

A close up comparison shows the difference 2. (above) Nonwoven geotextile in void space between conventional and material is laid over excavated area. porous asphalt.

Benefits and Uses

and a layer of geotextile material. Porous asphalt consists of standard bituminous asphalt in which the fines have been screened and reduced, creating void space to make it highly permeable to water. The void space of porous asphalt is approximately 16%, as opposed to two to three percent for conventional asphalt. Porous asphalt PA Department of Environmental Protection itself provides for some pretreatment of runoff. The crushed aggregate filter layer Design of system should consider expected Stone bedding layer should drain within 72 hours Prohibit use of sand, salt or other de-icers - www.dep.state.pa.us aids with pollutant removal and provides stability for the stone reservoir layer during type and frequency of usage of a rain event that may clog system Best Management - Pennsylvania Stormwater application of pavement. Treated runoff is stored in the reservoir bed, a highly Test soil 4 feet below base of stone reservoir Slope of pavement surface should be less than 5% Design must provide for a backup method Practices Manual permeable layer of open-graded clean-washed aggregate with at least 40% void for permeability of at least 0.5 inch per hour Aggregate for reservoir bed should be for water to enter stone reservoir (ex. space. Nonwoven geotextile material placed between the reservoir bed and US Environmental Protection Agency Porous surface permeability should be at least 8 approximately 1 to 3 inches in diameter stone-edged drain near wheel stop if uncompacted subsoil prevents the migration of fines into the stone reservoir, which www.epa.gov inches per hour Aggregate for reservoir must be clean-washed curbing is not in place) could clog the system. The treated water then percolates through the uncompacted Suitable for drainage area of less than 15 acres and contain at least 40% void space May not be suitable for stormwater hot Cahill Associates soil base to recharge the groundwater supply. Existing soil base must be level to prevent Reservoir layer is typically 12 to 36 inches deep spots (truck gas stations, etc.) due to www.thcahill.com - click stops, on Technologies for project ponding under the system Place porous asphalt directly on stone bed in a examples high and level of contaminants present general information Porous asphalt is applicable to many uses, including parking lots, driveways, Avoid compaction of soil base; if new fill is single 3.5 inch lift then roll to a finished depth of Use snow plows with caution during snow sidewalks, bike paths, playgrounds and tennis courts. With proper maintenance, required, the addition of stone is recommended 2.5 inches removal including regular vacuuming of the surface to prevent clogging by sediment, porous over adding compacted soil Use 85 to 100% penetration grade to prevent Not recommended for installation in areas of asphalt can have a minimum service life of 20 years. Use light equipment with tracks or oversized surface from being scuffed by vehicle wheels high traffic or heavy vehicle loads tires during : grading to prevent compaction ofporous Temperature ofoff-site asphalt runoff should be between 240 Not recommended in areas where wind VARIATIONS Installing a berm at the edge of paving keeps soil base and 260F erosion supplies significant amounts of andthe sediment from entering the porous paved surface area, which prevents Install Roof at least 4 feetmay above seasonal high Air temperature during clogging. leaders bethe connected to the system via an inlet that uses apaving must be at least 50F windblown sediment groundwater table to avoid contamination Not suitable for areas Protect pavement from vehicular traffic for at water quality insert. A subsurface drain may be incorporated into the design of of recent fill (less than 5 years) Design should include overflow drainage toto a detention Roll asphalt when it has cooled enough to least two days after installation the stone reservoir to collect water and route it or infiltration basin. remove excess stormwater withstand a ten-ton roller Post signs to prevent vehicles with muddy NOTE Perforated : Porous pipe paving placed materials in the stone are not bed effective will at removing Compact dissolved surface layer nutrients with one or two passes tires from entering area from distribute water; therefore, runoff evently they should throughout be installed the bed, atand least 100 of roller; feet from moredrinking frequentwater rolling can reduce Potholes and cracks may be patched with sources. may provide Pre-treatment additional of runoff storage is recommended volume, where infiltration oil, grease capacity or otherof groundpavement traditional patching mix, unless more than water depending contaminants on the are size expected. of pipe Control of sediment is critical - remove surface 10% of porous surface area needs to be Stone reservoir layer is placed in lifts and lightly sediment with a vacuum or by sweeping; avoid repaired rolled power washing, as it will clog the system Diagram courtesy of Cahill Associates

General Design Considerations

Additional Resources