Abstract
This study used the Source Loading and Management Model for Windows (WinSLAMM) to develop a set of calibrated hydrologic models for three types of regional permeable pavements—porous concrete pavement (PCP), permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP), and interlocking block pavement with gravel (IBPG). The objective was to assess the hydrologic performance of permeable pavements, including the runoff depth, peak discharge, percentage increment in runoff reduction of pavements as a function of rainfall depth, development area, and base aggregate porosity, respectively. The permeable pavements were monitored over a wide range of rainfall events in the semi-arid Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Data regarding rainfall intensities, source characterizations, runoff coefficients, and pavement design were initialized as WinSLAMM input. Validation results showed that the calibrated models could over or under-predict runoff reduction within a 30% error range. PCP and IBPG were very effective and could be capable of handling storms as large as 50-year frequency over a 24-h time period. The modeling results showed that PCP might require a 50–60% lesser footprint area as compared to PICP and IBPG, respectively. Additionally, PCP might be able to store 30% additional runoff if the porosity of base aggregates was increased by 40%.
Highlights
The uncontrolled discharge of urban runoff is one of the most common sources of pollution in the Arroyo Colorado, a river that extends for 90 miles through the heart of the Lower Rio GrandeValley (LRGV), from near Mission, Texas, TX, USA, eastward to the Laguna Madre [1,2,3]
Based on the existing drainage policy in McAllen, TX, USA, stormwater runoff generated from new commercial development is generally required to retain stormwater on-site for a 50-year frequency storm event to be released into a receiving system at a pre-developed rate for a 10-year frequency storm event
This study presents WinSLAMM calibration and validation results for three different types of permeable pavements in terms of runoff reduction for three Lower Rio GrandeValley (LRGV) installations
Summary
The uncontrolled discharge of urban runoff is one of the most common sources of pollution in the Arroyo Colorado, a river that extends for 90 miles through the heart of the Lower Rio GrandeValley (LRGV), from near Mission, Texas, TX, USA, eastward to the Laguna Madre [1,2,3]. Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, impervious concrete or asphalt surfaces are adversely replacing the existing permeable land cover in the Arroyo Colorado Watershed (1800 km2 ) [3,4]. Based on the existing drainage policy in McAllen, TX, USA, stormwater runoff generated from new commercial development is generally required to retain stormwater on-site for a 50-year frequency storm event to be released into a receiving system at a pre-developed rate for a 10-year frequency storm event. One conventional approach to meet this discharge goal is the construction of a detention pond with a large footprint area [6]. Such an approach can create aesthetic, safety, operational, Water 2019, 11, 1865; doi:10.3390/w11091865 www.mdpi.com/journal/water
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