Is Concrete Permeable Pavers Made From Porous Concrete? |

Is Concrete Permeable Pavers Made From Porous Concrete? |

The best kind of concrete permeable paver is one that is made from pervious cement. Unlike interlocking pavers with permeable gravel between the paver edges, porous cement actually filters water through the entire mass of each individual block. This gives any hardscape built from pervious concrete a greater capacity to drain rainwater into the crushed stone base foundation of the driveway, motor courts, walkway, or patio.
This crushed stone base is an essential drain that also functions as a water retention area. It captures water that filters through the pavement and stores it in the spaces between the crushed stones. This double layer of drainage and filtration does more than minimize flooding. It also helps slow down pollutants that travel in the water so that natural processes in the soil can biodegrade toxic materials.
Concrete permeable pavers made from porous concrete are recommended by the EPA for this reason. In many places where rainfall actually brings pollutants down to the ground, permeable hardscapes will filter these industrial by products into the earth, where bacteria will then feed off of them and biodegrade them. This also happens with motor oil, spilled gasoline, antifreeze, and other automobile fluids that commonly leak onto paved surfaces.