PLEASE NOTE: These bulletins, published since 1997, are historical. The content is not updated.
"Polluted runoff from impervious road surfaces is a major source of environmental and aquatic degradation," according to Stormwater Magazine (Vol. 3, No. 2, March/April, 2002, pg. 48). Construction, roads, parking lots, and roofs reduce the natural ground-cover vegetation and increase the impervious area, leading to an accompanying rise in the volume of surface runoff. As designers become more concerned about managing stormwater runoff, there is increasing interest in pavements that will allow water to flow through them. These porous paving materials are referred to as "pervious pavements."
Pervious paving products are not only made to allow water to pass through them, but are made to endure traffic by vehicles or pedestrians. They can be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as recycled plastic or concrete.
Pervious pavement can be used for applications, such as:
Concrete pavers - Uni Eco-Stone
Interlocking concrete paving blocks separated by holes (pores) that are filled with soil and gravel. This grid paving system is designed for commercial and residential vehicle load applications. Drainage openings in the paving surface allow stormwater to infiltrate.
Concrete (open-cell) pavers - TurfGrid
The TurfGrid paving system offers an open-cell concrete structure with 40 percent open area designed to be planted with turf. The system protects turf roots and soil from compaction due to foot and vehicle traffic.
Recycled plastic pavers - Grasspave
Grasspave is similar to the Turfgrid system (above) which provides for turf planting, but is manufactured with 100% recycled plastic. This paving system offers load bearing strength while protecting vegetation root systems from compaction. Open cells enable root development and storage capacity for rainfall from storm events.
Sustainable Building (LEED) Credit
Pervious pavements meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Standard. Your LEED certified project can get "sustainable site" credit (points) for this, as part of a Stormwater Management Plan that minimizes runoff. Also, additional credit may be available for using local/regional materials.
For more information about LEED, contact the U.S. Green Building Council.
Green Roads: Research Into Permeable Pavers (Stormwater Magazine)
Pervious pavement: Washington State Concrete Association
Environmental Purchasing Program
The King County Environmental Purchasing Program assists County agencies in implementation of King County Executive Policy CON-7-1-2, which requires agencies to use recycled and other environmentally preferable products wherever practicable.
The program assembles information about these products and makes it available to specific agency users who can evaluate them and develop applications in County projects.
These environmental purchasing bulletins contain information about the results of product evaluations and other accomplishments of County agencies. We hope this information will help you find ways to use recycled materials in the work of your agency and that you will contact us if we can help you with further information or if you have suggestions.
Environmental Purchasing Program King County Procurement Services Division
Published: March 18, 2002
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Bulletin List
Updated: March 18, 2002
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