The Use of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement to Filter Stormwater for Non-Potable Uses in Buildings

Abstract

A reduction in potable water demand in buildings could be made by using non-potable water for certain uses, such as flushing toilets. This represents a sustainable strategy that results in potable water savings while also using an underutilised resource. This work assesses the use of permeable interlocking concrete pavement to filter stormwater that could be used for non-potable purposes in buildings. Two pavement model systems were tested. One of the model systems presents a filter course layer with coarse sand and the other model system has no filter course layer. In order to evaluate the filtering capacity, the model systems were exposed to rain events. The amount of water infiltrated through the layers was measured to represent the potential quantity available for use. Stormwater runoff samples were collected from a parking lot paved with impermeable interlocked blocks and then, these were tested in both model systems. Water samples were subjected to quality tests according to the parameters recommended by the Brazilian National Water Agency. The model system with no filter course showed filtering capacity higher (88.1%) than the one with a filter course layer (78.8%). The model system with a filter course layer was able to reduce fecal coliforms (54.7%), total suspended solids (62.5%), biochemical oxygen demand (78.8%), and total phosphorus concentrations (55.6%). Biochemical oxygen demand (42.4%) and total phosphorus concentrations (44.4%) increased in the model system with no filter course layer. In conclusion, one can state that the filter course layer used in permeable interlocking concrete pavement can contribute to decreasing pollutants and can improve stormwater quality. The use of permeable interlocking concrete pavement showed to be a potential alternative for filtering stormwater prior to subsequent treatment for non-potable uses in buildings.

Permeable Pavements as a Means to Save Water in Buildings: State of the Art

“…Permeable pavement models analysed in the selected papers. Source: a -Permeable asphalt mixtures slabs [45]; b -Permeable pavement with filter course [50]; c -Permeable pavement without filter course [50]; d -Permeable pavement without filter course [53]; e -Permeable pavement with filter course [53]; f -Permeable pavement with filter course [49]; g -Permeable pavement with filter course [49].…”

“…Ghisi et al [49] analysed the quality of stormwater after infiltration in permeable pavement models with interlocking concrete blocks. The model with sand layer was able to reduce the concentrations of faecal coliforms (54.7%), total suspended solids (62.5%), biochemical oxygen demand (78.8%) and total phosphorus concentration (55.6%).…”

Permeable Pavements as a Means to Save Water in Buildings: State of the Art in Brazil

“…Ghisi et al [49] also evaluated permeable pavement models and the amount of rainwater they were able to capture. However, unlike the other studies presented so far, this one used interlocking concrete blocks as coating, instead of permeable asphalt mixtures.…”

“…Ghisi et al [49] analysed the quality of stormwater after infiltration in permeable pavement models with interlocking concrete blocks. The model with a sand layer was able to reduce the concentrations of faecal coliforms, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus concentration.…”

Application of Permeable Pavement as Low Impact Development (LID) in Improving Water Quality in Semarang River

“…Pavement Thickness 80 1 Void Ratio 0,17 [19] Impervious Surface Fraction 0 [19] Permeability 400 [20] Clogging Factor 0 [19] Regeneration interval 0 [19] Regeneration fraction 0 [19] Soil Thickness 50 mm Porosity 0,5 [19] Field Capacity 0,2 [19] Wilting Point 0,1 [19] Conductivity 0,5 in/hr [19] Conductivity slope 10 [19] Suction Head 3,5 in [19] Storage Thickness 80 mm Void Ratio 0,75 [19] Seepage rate 0,5 in/hr [19] clogging factor 0 [19] Source: Rossman (2016) [19], James Bruinsma (2017) [20] E3S Web of Conferences 317, 01094 (2021) ICENIS 2021 https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf /202131701094 (Table 4) below is the %removal allowance on permeable pavement used: 2020) [21], Zhiji Yu et al (2021) [22], Enedir Ghisi (2020) [23], Rossman (2016) [19] 4…”