Urban Drainage & Flood Control BMP Monitoring Sites
The report “BMP Monitoring Sites,” produced by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD), studies several types of permeable pavement options to test their ability to control and infiltrate runoff. The types of pervious pavements included in the study are pervious concrete, porous asphalt and permeable interlocking concrete pavers. The report summarizes how each type of pervious surface is installed, its infiltration rates and its longevity.
The report provides detailed explanations of the proper installation of each type of pervious surface, including considerations of the geologic conditions that the surface is to be installed on and periods of freezing temperatures that the area is subject to. This allows installers to make special accommodations based on the time of year the pavement is to be installed, the thickness and type of the underbed and the type of water drainage or catchment system that is used. The report also includes results of tests tracking major rainstorm events and the level of infiltration achieved by each pervious surface as compared to conventional asphalt or concrete surfaces. Finally, the document reports how well each surface stood up to continuous use over a period of several years.
Because the report comprehensively explains proper installation of several pervious surfaces, it can be very useful to local governments or businesses looking to include pervious surfaces in future development projects. One limitation of is that it is written for governments in the Southwestern climate and geological area. Readers should therefore refer to other sources to learn information about their soil types and climate zones before installing pervious surfaces in an area other than the Southwest.
