Low Impact Development Manual for Michigan - OSEH - University ...

Description and Function
A pervious pavement system consists of a porous
surface course underlain by a storage reservoir placed
on uncompacted subgrade to facilitate stormwater infiltration
(Figure 7.32). The storage reservoir may consist
of a stone bed of uniformly graded, clean, and washed
course aggregate with a void space of approximately
40 percent or other pre-manufactured structural storage
units (see Infiltration BMP for detailed information on
the use of structural storage units). The pervious pavement
may consist of porous asphalt, pervious concrete,
permeable paver blocks, or reinforced turf/gravel.
Stormwater drains through the surface course where it
is temporarily held in the voids of the stone bed, and
then slowly infiltrates into the underlying, uncompacted
soil mantle (in some extreme cases, minimal compaction
of the soil may be required). The stone bed can
be designed with an overflow control structure so that
during large storm events peak rates are controlled. At
no time does the water level rise to the pavement level.
A layer of nonwoven geotextile filter fabric separates
the aggregate from the underlying soil, preventing the
migration of fines into the bed. The bed bottoms should
be level and uncompacted to allow for even and distributed
stormwater infiltration.
If new fill is required, it should consist of additional
stone and not compacted soil. It is recommended that
a fail safe be built into the system in the event that
the pervious surface is adversely affected and suffers
reduced performance. Many designs incorporate a riverstone/rock
edge treatment (Figure 7.33) or inlets which
are directly tied to the bed so that the stormwater system
will continue to function despite the performance of the
pervious pavement surface.
Figure 7.32
Example cross-section of porous asphalt system
Pervious pavement is well suited for parking lots,
walking paths, sidewalks, playgrounds, plazas, tennis
courts, and other similar uses. Pervious pavement can
be used in driveways if the homeowner is aware of the
stormwater functions of the pavement. Pervious pavement
roadways have seen wider application in Europe
and Japan than in the U.S., although at least one U.S.
system has been constructed successfully. (In Japan
and the U.S., applying an open-graded asphalt pavement
of one inch or less on roadways has been used to
provide lateral surface drainage and prevent hydroplaning,
but these are applied over impervious pavement on
compacted subgrade. This application is not considered
a stormwater BMP.)
Properly installed and maintained pervious pavement
has a significant life span. For example, existing systems
that are more than 20 years old continue to function
successfully. Because water drains through the surface
course and into the subsurface bed, freeze-thaw cycles
do not tend to adversely affect pervious pavement.
Pervious pavement is most susceptible to failure difficulties
during construction and, therefore, it is important
that construction be undertaken in such a way as to
prevent:
• Compacted underlying soil (except in certain
limited conditions),
• Contaminated stone subbase with sediment and
fines,
• Tracking of sediment or any temporary storage of
soil on the pavement surface, and
• Drainage of sediment-laden waters onto pervious
surface or into constructed bed.
Figure 7.33
Riverstone edge serves as a backup inlet into
the infiltration bed under the porous asphalt
LID Manual for Michigan – Chapter 7 Page 243