Analysis and Contrast of Different Pervious Pavements for Management of Storm-Water in a Parking Area in Northern Spain

Pervious pavements are rainwater control systems that filter and store rainwater, reducing runoff formation and the risk of urban flooding. In addition, these sustainable urban drainage systems provide an additional source of water for non-potable use, which implies a cost and energy saving. An experimental 45 place parking lot consisting of five different types of pervious pavements was constructed in a public park in Santander, northern Spain. The purpose of this research is to evaluate and compare the effect of each pervious pavement type on water storage under specific conditions in northern Spain over time. The main results showed that the pervious materials chosen influence the behaviour of pervious pavements for storm-water management. Firstly, pervious surface materials had a greater effect than the geotextile layer. Nevertheless, the differences in terms of storm-water management using the different pervious pavement types tested still need to be confirmed. Clustering techniques showed three different behaviours according to the pervious surface used. Moreover, porous asphalt (PA) and porous concrete (PC) showed the highest correlation (86%), whereas plastic grid pavers (PGC) showed least correlation with the others. The capacity of pervious pavement to manage urban storm-water was demonstrated and this experimental parking area provided an alternative water source supplying enough water to irrigate a public garden for almost an entire month.