This ongoing three year study of the performance of different types of permeable pavements is being conducted at the  Living City Campus at Kortright in Vaughan through a research collaboration between STEP and the University of Guelph.  For study purposes, the parking lot is divided into four plots, each with an area of approximately 244 square metres. One plot is surfaced with pervious concrete, two are surfaced with narrow (AquaPave®) and wide jointed (Eco-Optiloc®) permeable interlocing concrete pavements, and the other with impervious asphalt as a control. Click the image on the right to open a larger view of the study site. 

Subsurface drainage from each plot is conveyed separately in sealed pipes to a monitoring vault where flow rates and volumes are measured, and samples for water quality analysis are collected. The AquaPave® plot contains a lower trench and custom drainage system specially designed for evaluating the potential for stormwater contaminants to migrate through the soils into the underlying groundwater.

The effectiveness of different maintenance practices is also being assessed at older permeable pavement sites that are clogged, or are starting to show signs of clogging. Multiple types of proprietary street cleaners as well as small scale vacuuming and pressure washing on different types of permeable pavements are being examined.

Study results will be used to develop or refine policies and guidelines on the appropriate use and design of permeable pavements for stormwater management.