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Permeable paving a trend to keep an eye out in 2017.
Little by little, homeowners and communities are embracing sustainable development by opting for permeable paving options instead of traditional asphalt.
The Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering highlights the growing trend over the last decade in the application of permeable pavement as a sustainable stormwater management tool.
Permeable surfacing has millions of air pockets that allows water to flow through and cut down stormwater runoff; unlike traditional asphalt, which does not allow water to soak into the ground. This is significant because storm runoff can pick up motor oil, debris, calcium, phosphorus, and petrol, which are all leading sources of pollutants entering our waterways.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 90 percent of surface pollutants are carried by the first 1-1/2 inch of rainfall. Stormwater drains do not typically channel this polluted runoff to treatment facilities, but instead flow it directly into local water supplies.
Environmentalists say that permeable surfaces can help combat these challenges and deliver large environmental, social, and economic benefits.