Abstract
Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP) are a Low Impact Development (LID) technology that reduce the total volume of stormwater discharge and peak flows from urban hardscapes. Over time, particulates accumulate in the PICP joints, decreasing the pavement’s surface infiltration capacity and negatively affecting its overall functionality. Maintenance with two surface treatment technologies, a hand-held power brush and pressure washer-used in combination with vacuum street sweepers were compared to maintenance with vacuum street sweepers alone at four PICP parking lots. Both surface treatments along with vacuum street sweeping significantly improved the restoration of infiltration capacity for the young (i.e., <4 years) PICP section. Pressure washing in combination with vacuum sweeping was effective for PICP sections with larger (13–14 mm) joint openings. Power brushing, however, provided inconsistent results between the PICP sections. The effect of surface treatments was not significant for older (i.e., >6 years) installations with small (3–4 mm) joint openings. Though surface treatment resulted in significant improvement with a pressure washer and vacuum street sweeper combination, usage intensity of the parking lot was deemed as an important factor in restoring infiltration capacity. These findings re-emphasize that regular maintenance is essential to ensure long-term hydraulic functionality of PICP.
Highlights
Permeable pavements (PP), Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP), are becoming a widely adopted Low Impact Development (LID) technology [1] in Canada and the United States
The University of Toronto, in collaboration with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada assessed strategies for restorative maintenance on PICP using two surface treatments, a hand-held power brush and a pressure washer, prior to street sweeping in November 2015 and June 2016
Maintenance using different surface treatments along with a vacuum street sweeper was evaluated for four PICP sections of two parking lots in the Greater Toronto Area
Summary
Permeable pavements (PP), Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP), are becoming a widely adopted Low Impact Development (LID) technology [1] in Canada and the United States. PICPs are a better stormwater management alternative in comparison to traditional impermeable pavements as they decrease the effective impervious area (EIA) of a catchment creating opportunities for infiltration and sustaining pre-development hydrologic conditions [2,3]. As an alternative hardscaping material, PICPs mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization by attenuating peak flows, increasing infiltration into the native soil and improving the quality of the water [4]. The recognition of benefits has led to the adoption of permeable pavements for low traffic infrastructures like parking lot and sidewalks in the last two decades, and most Canadian and US municipalities use them for source control stormwater management
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