Permeable Paving

England is quickly legislating what is called permeable paving for driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks. As the greater Atlanta area is witnessing today, this is going to be necessary almost everywhere very soon. The water run-off in a record breaking deluge of rain quickly overwhelms average storm drainage systems causing massive flooding with disastrous results.

Permeable paving allows the water to pass through driveways and parking lots, etc. and be absorbed by the ground. Not only does this cause less run off, it also filters the water keeping some spilled oil out of our creeks and streams.

When visiting Europe another benefit of these type roads and sidewalks was explained to me. Need to make repairs to a city's infrastructure? Just lift the individual cobblestones or bricks, stack them to the side, make the repair then put them back. No jackhammering concrete, sending it to the landfill and and installing new ... putting the sidewalk and/or street out of commission for weeks longer.