New York City begins first large-scale porous pavement installation

New York City is installing its first large-scale porous pavement installation along seven miles of roadway in Brooklyn.

The project will keep 35 million gallons of stormwater out of the combined sewer system each year, according to a news release. Porous pavement will be installed along the curb line of streets, where stormwater typically drains towards a catch basin on the corner. The pavement can withstand the weight of motor vehicles, including trucks. New York has piloted the use of several different types of porous pavement for a few years in different boroughs, but this is the first large-scale implementation.

“Climate change is bringing with it rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers and cause flooding across the five boroughs, which is why we are investing in tools that will divert rainwater away from the sewer system, such as porous pavement,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Brooklyn got hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Ophelia last September and this new porous pavement will help to ease pressure on the sewer system and protect residents during future storms.”

Over the last decade, the city has built the nation’s largest Green Infrastructure Program, the release says. Green Infrastructure intercepts stormwater before it can drain into sewers, thereby preserving some capacity in the system and helping to prevent, or reduce, flooding, backups, and overflows. Green infrastructure includes porous pavement, curbside rain gardens, permeable pavers, green or blue roofs, and underground storage. To date the city has built more than 13,000 green infrastructure installations, including more than 9,000 curbside rain gardens.