PERMEABLE PAVING

There are many ways to accommodate Stormwater Management and Low Impact Development concepts in our daily life here in Mendon.   Permeable Pavement - pavement that allows some water to permeate or run through it - is one of those methods.   Driveways, small parking lots, and lightly traveled ways are prime candidates for permeable paving.  Currently, people constructing driveways or patios with paver stones can incorporate permeable technique by leaving the space between the pavers open and filled with sand, or optimally, the paver design allows for tight sidewall construction with a small space left open on the corner.  Depending on design, paving material, soil type and rainfall, permeable paving can infiltrate as much as 80% of annual rainfall.   This amounts to thousands of gallons of rain that is properly reinfiltrated to ground water sources instead of being directly diverted to a concentrated water source.   

In addition to porous asphault and paving stone designs, grass pavers can be utilized and can add a natural look to your parking area.   

There are some limitations to this method, especially where cost and heavy traffic areas are concerned.  You can learn more at http://www.mapc.org/regional_planning/LID/permeable_paving.html.