No Water Puddles
It rained last night at least at my house! It was not much but any rain is appreciated. The rain got me to thinking about water management, especially how is run off handled. I know one of the mandated methods is to build a holding pond/pool for the water running off of parking lots. I am sure you have all seen the fenced in pool on the edge of parking lots at most of the large retail centers. This is where the water from the parking lot collects and is slowly released in the storm drainage system. These pools help to prevent flooding as they lessen the load on the drainage system. They however still depend on water draining to a central area. As many of you are aware this often turns parking lots into small lakes until the water can drain away.
There is a solution to this problem called “Semi-Previous Concrete” this method of paving allows water to pass right through to the ground below (there is preparation required). I have seen this type of pavement in action on I-10 East heading to Houston. I was driving in almost blinding spray from the traffic in front of me and all of a sudden it cleared up. The spray was gone because the rain was draining through the pavement as fast as it landed.
There are other benefits from semi-previous pavement such as a decrease in the heat island effect in part cause by large paved areas. It is also beneficial to vegetation as water is available to root systems. It also decreases the formation of ice in colder regions. The increased surface area of this type of pavement aids in the filtration of contaminants from the run off. Use of this type of pavement is giving high marks by the US Green Building Coalition (USGBC) and LEED certifying authorities.
Applications for you home! How about the driveway and walkways! I bet if you look at your current sidewalk and the driveway they are both graded to allow water run off. Depending on your lot that runs off is heading for the street or the yard. Mine tends to puddle where it is supposed to enter the yard! Time for “No Water Puddles!”