Soak Up the Rain: Permeable Pavement

Alternatives to traditional pavement on our paved surfaces can help reduce runoff by infiltrating rain water and melting snow. These alternative materials which include pervious asphalt, pervious concrete, interlocking pavers, and plastic grid pavers, allow rain and snowmelt to seep through the surface down to underlying layers of soil and gravel. In addition to reducing the runoff from the rain that falls on them, permeable pavements can help filter out pollutants that contribute to water pollution. Permeable pavements can also reduce the need for road salt and reduce construction costs for residential and commercial development by reducing the need for some conventional drainage features.

Information About Permeable Pavement

Permeable Pavements, Green Infrastructure, U.S. EPA

Tech Brief: Porous Asphalt Pavements with Stone Reservoirs, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 2015 (pdf) (963 KB)
Provides an overview of the benefits, limitations and applications of porous asphalt pavements with stone reservoirs. Considerations for design, construction and maintenance are also discussed.

Local resources

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

Connecticut

A Resident's Guide to Pervious Pavement in Connecticut, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (pdf) (562 KB)
Introduces pervious pavements, including information on how it works, the types and benefits, and residential applications.

Connecticut Stormwater Manual, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Chapter 11 includes information on permeable pavement (pdf) (890 KB).

New Hampshire

Pervious Walkways & Patios Do-it-Yourself Fact Sheet, New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management, Do-It-Yourself Stormwater Solutions For Your Home, Soak Up the Rain New Hampshire, November 2019 (pdf) (5.1 MB)
Refer to page 31 for the fact sheet with information about sizing, design, installation and maintenance of a pervious walking or patio.

University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center
Find a range of information about permeable pavements, including design specifications, water quality benefits, and performance in cold climates.

Rhode Island

Permeable Pavement Projects around Rhode Island, LID Inventory, Rhode Island Stormwater Solutions

Rhode Island Stormwater Management Guidance for Individual Single-Family Residential Lot Development (pdf) (719 KB)

Vermont

Permeable Pavers, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (pdf) (16.4 MB).

Vermont Low Impact Development Guide for Residential and Small Sites, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (pdf) (5 MB)
Includes a review of the benefits and limitations of permeable pavement.