Urban water
Permeable Pavement
Paving that lets rainwater soak through into the ground, reducing runoff, flooding and pollution in urban areas.
Definition
Permeable pavement is a paved surface — using porous asphalt or concrete, permeable interlocking pavers, or reinforced grids — that allows rainwater to infiltrate through the surface into a storage layer and the soil below, rather than running off into drains. It is a core sustainable drainage (SuDS) and green infrastructure technique.
References
definition, function and applications
design guidance within sustainable drainage systems
Overview
What it means
Conventional paving seals urban soil, concentrating stormwater into pipes that overflow in storms and carry pollutants to rivers. Permeable surfaces restore infiltration, filtering pollutants, recharging groundwater and reducing peak flows; they work best for car parks, footpaths and low-traffic areas, with maintenance needed to prevent clogging.
How it is used
The technique features in SuDS regulations, water-sensitive urban design and sponge city programmes; some jurisdictions credit permeable surfaces against stormwater fees.
Why it matters
As extreme rainfall intensifies, managing water where it falls is essential urban adaptation; permeable pavement turns hard surfaces from part of the flood problem into part of the solution.
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