Permeable Pavements
We have published on how porous asphalt manages stormwater quantity and how they improve stormwater quality. Based on our permeable pavement research, the 2019 edition of the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW) was amended. The SWMMWW is a crucial regulatory guidance manual that provides local municipalities with instructions on setting stormwater requirements as required for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The amendment in the SWMMWW based on our work changes how permeable pavements must be constructed in western Washington, effectively giving them more stormwater credit. Specifically, the amendment reduces the depth of sand required below a permeable pavement system from 18 inches to 6 inches reducing construction costs.
Our research is shifting to long term durability and maintenance of permeable pavements through our collaboration with Boeing, Tacoma Public Schools and others. Another area of interest is the role permeable pavements may play in the removal of 6PPD-quinone from stormwater.
Our results suggest that permeable pavements may be an effective form of Green Stormwater Infrastructure for mitigating tire-associated stormwater pollution.
