Furthermore, improving the overall soil structure on a site can notably diminish runoff. Similarly, the water from roofs can be drained into the soil by connecting downspouts to underground perforated pipes, allowing the water to seep directly into the ground (Figure 3—45). gravel base are also porous pavements. The latter, however, are only feasible in warm climates where surface water does not freeze. Figure 3-42
Porous pavements allow the water to percolate to the subsurface. This is an ideal pavement for walks and infrequently used driveway areas, not only for the environmental benefits but also because the structural framework tends to visually disappear, giving the surface a lawn-like appearance. Restricting the area of paved surfaces as much as possible can also moderate site runoff. Figure 3-43
Cross-section through grass pavement. The interconnected concrete or plastic framework provides the structural support while the gaps are filled with soil and planted with lawn or ground cover (Figure 3-43). Further, roofs, streets, driveways, parking areas, patios, and walks seal the ground’s surface and prevent surface water from percolating into the soil. Surface runoff from a residential site can also be reduced by draining it toward lawn and planting areas where it can more readily enter the ground (Figure 3-44). Not being able to enter the ground, the water runs off to nearby streams and rivers where it swells the volume of water flowing during and after a storm. A rain garden may be designed to look like a bog, a mini-wetland, a streamlike area with rocks, and so forth. Grass pavement is not practical where there is intense, frequent use or where snow removal is necessary. In addition, some concrete paver manufacturers offer specially designed concrete pavers that intentionally create gaps between individual paving units, thus permitting surface water to infiltrate to the ground below (see Chapter 12, Figures 12-27 and 12-28, pages 403-404). Rain gardens should be placed downslope from where the surface water originates and integrated into the overall design of the site (Figure 3—46). Brick, stone, concrete pavers, and wood laid with small spaces between the individual pieces of material on a sand or
Figure 3-41
Paved areas should be minimized to reduce surface runoff. Sandy or porous soil should be located underneath a rain garden to accommodate percolation of water into the soil, and the plants in a rain garden should be able to grow well in moist soil and to withstand periodic flooding (Figure 3—47). One increasingly popular idea is a “rain garden,” an artificially low area created to retain water that is drained toward it. Many urban soils have the consistency of concrete and effectively create a solid barrier that prevents surface water from percolating into the ground. Aggregate materials such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, wood chips, and so on are inherently porous surfaces. Driveways, walks, patios, pool decks, and so on should be sized to minimum standards without sacrificing principles of good compositional design and needs for proper functioning. Another approach to reducing surface runoff is to use porous pavement surfaces. One other example of porous pavement is grass pavement, which is composed of a concrete or plastic mesh with regularly spaced openings extending through it. Many of the techniques for conserving water (see “Conserve Water” in this chapter) reduce surface runoff as well.
