The Basics

AquaPave® pervious concrete is a durable pavement with a large volume (approximately 20%) of interconnected voids, which allows water to pass through it while retaining the strength to withstand vehicular traffic. Like conventional concrete, it’s made from a mixture of cement, coarse aggregates, and water. However, it contains little or no sand, which results in an open-cell structure.

AquaPave® slabs provide drainage through the surface at approximately 22,000 millimeters per hour. As rain water filters through the system, contaminants on the surface of the concrete, such as motor oil, copper or zinc, are neutralised before soaking into the groundwater table.

When placed over slow-draining silty soils, rainwater is temporarily stored in a coarse gravel layer underneath the pavement, so that it can naturally percolate slowly into the underlying soil. The pavement and base layer act as a detention area to capture and infiltrate water.

Properly designed pervious concrete systems can eliminate the cost of conventional storm water infrastructure, by eliminating the need to connect to stormwater mains.