Experimental results of the hydrological performance of a permeable pavement laboratory rig

There is an increasing number of everyday flood incidents around the world, the impact of which poses a challenge to society, the economy and the environment. Under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), green infrastructure through the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is the recommended policy to manage and treat storm water runoff. Given the limited published experimental information on permeable interlocking concrete block pavements (PICPs), this paper presents novel results from an experimental laboratory study on a permeable interlocking concrete block pavement rig, investigating the short-term hydrology of the pavement, and water quality aspects related to the retention capacity of suspended solids (SS) through the pavement structure. Results of the volume analysis demonstrate high capability of the permeable structure to reduce the concentration time and attenuate the storm. Water quality testing was employed mainly as an indicator of the tendency of the suspended solids retention by the structure, indicating increasing tendency in the sediment mass retention progressively after each rainfall event. Experimental results obtained in the present study have direct application on the implementation of PICPs in car parking lots, urbanised pavement structures and pedestrianised walkways.