The Water Information Program

Paved sidewalks and driveways keep shoes clean and cars out of the mud. But environmentally speaking, too much paving is a disaster, blanketing the ground and preventing rainwater from soaking in. Runoff, especially after strong storms, erodes soil and carries oily residue into streams and eventually into sensitive estuaries. Pervious paving, though, is friendlier. Attractive enough for casual patios and walkways and sturdy enough for driveways, it is designed to let rainwater drain through, usually into a deep layer of gravel where it can slowly percolate into the soil. "The paving keeps the storm water from acting like a fire hose on stream banks," says Ann English, a landscape architect at the Low Impact Development Center. The nonprofit organization in Beltsville helped pioneer the use of natural systems, rather than culverts, to manage storm water. "Permeable paving cuts down on erosion," English says. "It lets the water get cleaned as it moves through soil layers. and it recharges the groundwater." 

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