Permeable pavers

Permeable pavers are part of a design integrating several LID principles for managing stormwater. The technique can be used where pedestrians, bicycles or vehicles travel or park. Different types of manufactured modular systems can accommodate various needs. Gaps between pavers allow stormwater to infiltrate the underlying aggregate base, where it infiltrates the ground or drains to a system of underdrains.

Depending on the system and use, gaps may be filled with various infiltrating material. In lower traffic areas, a soil and planting mix could be used. In higher traffic areas, a gravel system may be more appropriate. Proper maintenance of these systems is crucial for keeping gaps from becoming plugged.

FEATURED SITE - McCord’s Vancouver Toyota

10455 NE 53rd St., Vancouver

This 2011 development includes an expansive paver-system parking lot for new and used vehicles and customer and employee parking. The overall site design includes a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver-certified building and native landscape beds with drip irrigation.

Paver parking and vehicle sales lot – More than 1.6 million pavers were used in the 325,000-square-foot sales and parking lot, eliminating the need to connect the site to a stormwater system. The pavers, installed over layers of crushed rock on 7.6 acres, filter rain and runoff, returning clean water to native soil. Once a year, the area is maintained using a street sweeper.

Rainwater harvesting system – The rooftop rainwater harvesting system captures stormwater and funnels it into two 20,000-gallon storage tanks, which supply rinse water for the dealership’s car wash. The system keeps about 8 million gallons of water from entering the public sewer system and saves about 200,000 gallons per year in potable water.

Native landscaping – The landscaping uses native and climate-adapted vegetation and a high efficiency drip irrigation system, reducing outdoor water usage by 80 percent.

Maintenance