Roads and parking lots make up the largest percentage of manmade impervious surfaces in the world. Large amounts of runoff contribute to wastewater treatment plant overloads and subsequent raw sewage discharges. A high runoff rate reduces the groundwater recharge potential, causes stream bed erosion, and flooding which frequently results in the loss of life, property and /or crop damage. High runoff rates also cause surface pollutants to be washed into storm sewers, streams and other waterways, causing damage to aquatic plant and animal life. Pourous pavements are one of the tools which environmental engineers, landscape architects and planners may use in design for stormwater management to help reduce runoff.Previous investigators have assumed that compressed concrete block unit pavements, on a sand bed and gravel base, with sand joints, become impermeable over time. This study sought to determine the runoff coefficient for a trafficked pavement that has been in use for ten months. A Variable Intensity Portable Rain Simulator was used in 120 tests on nine plots from a pedestrian plaza and three plots from an intersection of a neighborhood outlet and a city street, paved with Unidecor (or Cobble-) Pavers. Three rainfall intensity ranges were tested for each pavement type; 0 to 7 millimeters per hour, 7 to 15 millimeters per hour, and 15 to 30 millimeters per hour. For storms with an intensity level of twelve millimeters per hour average, the runoff coefficient on the plaza was significantly different than that for the intersection. Additionally, it was found that for the three intensity ranges tested the runoff was significantly different for each range.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183378 |
| Date | 03 June 2011 |
| Creators | Hade, James D. |
| Contributors | Siewert, Horst F. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vii, 47 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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