All permeable paving systems consist of a durable, load bearing, pervious surface overlying a crushed stone base that stores rainwater before it infiltrates into the underlying soil. Permeable paving techniques include porous asphalt, pervious concrete, paving stones, and manufactured grass pavers made of concrete or plastic. Permeable paving may be used for walkways, patios, plazas, driveways, parking stalls, and overflow parking areas.
Porous pavers, on the other hand, present a surface with ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Porous/permeable pavers provide the same advantages as traditional concrete pavers, including resistance to heavy loads, flexibility of repair, low maintenance, exceptional durability, and high quality.

Permeable or porous pavers on your project can have a positive impact on the following issues:

• Use infiltration to reduce stormwater runoff that leaves parking lots
• Increase stormwater storage
• Reduce thermal loading on surface waters
• Reduce pollutants reaching surface waters
• Groundwater recharge/storage
• Reduce down-stream flooding
• Erosion control of stream beds and river banks

Infiltration trenches are thought to be the best sustainable stormwater management practice – from a treatment and groundwater recharge standpoint.

The site MUST have soils that can infiltrate at least 0.5 inches per hour (other opinions may vary on the numbers) to use this – which eliminates many sites with silty or clayey soils.

Cleaning with commercial street sweeping/vacuuming equipment is recommended by some manufacturers on an approximate four-year cycle.

Additional aggregate fill material can be added to drainage openings at joints or paver voids as required.

Methods and requirements may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and project to project. However, in many cases installation is similar to that used for traditional solid pavers installation to produce a flexible pavement system.

Permeable paving is not ideal for high traffic/high speed areas because it has lower load-bearing capacity than conventional pavement. Nor should it be used on stormwater hotspots with high pollutant loads because stormwater cannot be pretreated prior to infiltration. Heavy winter sanding may clog joints and void spaces.

Permeable Pavers offer an environmentally friendly alternative to regular interlocking pavers. They allow for water to filter through the paving surface where it stays in a gravel basin while it slowly percolates into the soil. Through percolation, many pollutants including oil residue can be filtered out of the water before they reach underground aquifers or the main watershed. Also, by absorbing runoff, permeable surfaces help to prevent erosion and drainage issues in your yard.

Permeable can be used for driveways, walkways, patios or virtually any other outdoor paving application. In some cities, they have even been used for roads.

Additionally some areas give tax breaks for use of permeable pavement.