Green Parking Lots, Driveways and Paved Roads

Historically, America's community motto for stormwater management has been "conveyance" -- moving water away from the site where it falls as quickly as possible.

In contrast with these long-practiced, expensive approaches, the guiding principle of low impact development approaches is not conveyance; it is "source control and infiltration". LID techniques maximize the area available for absorbing water into prepared soil through infiltration so that runoff volume and pollutant concentrations are reduced.

Low impact development is achieved through a variety of site design and engineered infiltration techniques.

Some of the benefits of low impact development include:

• Groundwater recharge through infiltration of surface water
• Filtration of surface water with natural soils
• Protection of lakes, streams and the ocean from urban and agri runoff
• Meet Clean Water Act requirements for reduced pollutant levels and volume of runoff
• Reduce frequency and severity of floods
• Preserve stream and upland habitats

Retrofit a Parking Lot to increase permeability.

Over sixty-five percent of impervious areas are associated with "habitat for cars". Using porous pavement in parking lots is a simple way to provide infiltration and reduce runoff.

Learn more about Green Parking Lots from California Green Solutions