United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Urban Watershed Management Branch
Design/Construction of a Permeable Pavement Demonstration
Site at the Edison Environmental Center (EEC)
IMPACT STATEMENT
This project will provide a
scientifically defensible estimate of the
performance of the three permeable
surfaces: porous concrete, porous
asphalt, and interlocking concrete
pavers. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) can provide
the results to municipalities enabling
them to plan sound stormwater
management strategies.
BACKGROUND:
At present, there is little information on the performance of this stormwater management practice that
practitioners can use to design a stormwater management plan. There is also little information of temporal
changes or maintenance practices. This project is being conducted to generate reliable data on the
stormwater management control. The Water Supply and Water Resources Division of EPA's Office of
Research and Development's (ORD's) National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
solicited advice and opinions from each trade group associated with the permeable surface installed to
assure that the design and construction meet the associations' specifications.
DESCRIPTION:
ORD's NRMRL has funded this research project in support of its Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI)
Research Program. This project will measure the water quality parameters for at least ten years to establish
the performance changes associated with seasonal patterns and with elapsed time (facility use). This allows
measurements of changes in performance with maintenance practices, and also allows measurement of
temperature profiles under each surface to detect heat island patterns. The project will establish the
observational data on ancillary parameters such as the ability to plow snow, and the use of deicing
chemicals.
Parking lot highlights:
• The lot covers about one acre and provides parking for employees and visitors.
• Driving lanes are paved with conventional asphalt that drains to the porous surfaces.
• The lot slopes so water flows across the driving lanes between the porous sections.
• Partially buried tanks receive water drained from lined sections of the permeable parking lanes,
allowing researchers to measure volume and flow rates and also study stormwater quality.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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• Monitoring instruments are installed in and beneath the porous pavement to understand the
movement of storm water through the pavement, underlying layers, and into the native soil.
• Six rain garden cells will help reduce stormwater runoff from non-porous sections of the parking
lot and the roof of the adjacent building.
This parking lot, which was open for use on October 28, 2009, will not only function as a research site, it
will also serve as a highly used parking lot for Edison Environmental Center staff and visitors. In addition,
the lot will serve as a demonstration site for other federal facilities and will be used as a public outreach
tool displaying green stormwater management.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water; Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Water Quality (WQ), Long Term Goal - WQ-3 Source Control
RESEARCH PARTNERS:
Contractors: PARS Environmental Services; Compete Technical Solutions with S&E Services
Collaborators: EPA's Region 2 and Office of Administration and Resources Management
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS
This research project aims to provide sound methods for measuring the performance of similar stormwater
controls installed in less controlled environments that can be executed by others. The project also provides
statistically defensible performance results. Measurements will enable scientists to determine whether
permeable surfaces will help cities:
• cool more effectively during summer evenings than areas paved with conventional surfaces;
• reduce stormwater volume flowing to receiving waters; and
• improve water quality by removing solids and other environmental contaminants.
All of the rain falling on the parking lot will infiltrate into the soil with no runoff reducing the
environmental footprint of this EPA facility.
OUTPUTS:
Current and expected outputs consist of reports, presentations, and a peer-reviewed journal article.
RESOURCES:
Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/awi/
NRMRL Urban Watershed Management Research: http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/
CONTACTS:
Michael Borst, Principal Investigator - (732) 321-6631 or borst.mike@epa.gov
Thomas O'Connor, Investigator - (732) 321-6723 or oconnor.thomas@epa.gov
Amy Rowe, Investigator - (732) 906-6823 or rowe.amy@epa.gov
Emilie Stander, Investigator - (732) 906-6898 or stander.emilie@epa.gov
Steven Doub, Media Relations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 or latham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory EPA/600/F-09/038
Water Supply and Water Resources Division October 2009
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