Developing additional impervious cover to this area would have created more storm water runoff than government restrictions allowed. Belgard experts worked with BMW of Dallas to create a site solution including permeable pavers.
“Belgard was a great choice for this project not only because the permeable pavers were an attractive solution to the need for additional parking, but we were also able to work with BMW of Dallas as an experienced commercial site solutions provider for their storm water runoff issues. ”
Dry soils also become more prone to erosion. Unable to leech down through the surface, rain water gathers sediments and ground pollutants as they dramatically increase surface runoffs through urban infrastructure, flowing down to receiving waters. This has affected the population at the expense of the environment, as well as economically, raising costs of development and maintenance of infrastructures.
Landscape architects and contractors are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint and seeking out solutions that not only comply with government restrictions but also decrease their negative impact. Careful storm water planning helps to account for Mother Nature’s needs while still developing land for our use.
A Belgard Hardscapes Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) system manufactured by Jewell, an Oldcastle Company in Waco, Texas was chosen by installer Concrete Paver Systems to address this rising land development issue and stay within the existing footprint of the BMW of Dallas site. Permeable pavements answer both qualitative and quantitative needs for storm water management.
As water rains on the pavement, it seeps through to the ground, reducing surface flows, often even eliminating the need for sewers and manholes. The 70,000-sq. ft. PICP system installed at BMW of Dallas allowed for storm water to be captured, detained and discharged in a controlled manner.
“As water rains down on the pavement, it begins its journey by seeping through the specially filled joints in the pavers, and then through the base aggregates, which naturally filter the pollutants,” said Chuck Taylor, commercial hardscapes expert for Belgard Hardscapes. “As it travels down, the water is stored in the base, until it reaches the natural underlying soils and recharges the ground aquifers that filter the water while allowing pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the surface.”
“Belgard was a great choice for this project not only because the permeable pavers were an attractive solution to the need for additional parking, but we were also able to work with BMW of Dallas as an experienced commercial site solutions provider for their storm water runoff issues,” said Micah North, sales representative for Belgard Hardscapes. ”
In May 2012, BMW of Dallas hosted a PICP demonstration for designers and city officials spraying over 500 gallons of water per minute on the permeable surface without any puddling or runoff.