Porous asphalt has a unique purpose. It helps manage stormwater by allowing the water to seep through the asphalt into a stone recharge bed and infiltrate into the soils below the pavement. Mostly found in parking lots, porous asphalt is long-lasting and even after twenty years, it shows little signs of cracking and it, typically, isn’t susceptible to potholes.

One of the most infamous instances of porous asphalt is located at the Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord, Massachusetts. It was constructed in 1977 and has never been repaved! Over 40 years later, it still remains in good shape and is still effective in draining storm water.

While porous pavement is coarser than typical pavement; driving, walking, or traversing the pavement won’t feel any different. In fact, it meets all standards and requirements of the American’s with Disabilities Act.

As wonderful as this type of pavement sounds, it is still susceptible to debris. Over time, sediments and other small amounts of debris will become lodged in the pavement’s pores, also referred to as macrotexture. The clogging of the pavement’s pores may not end up damaging the pavement but it will reduce its effectiveness.

Click here for more information on the Surface Hog.