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City study finds permeable pavement manages stormwater but needs costly upkeep on arterials
Summary
A multi-year city study of porous asphalt and pervious concrete on Sharp Avenue found the pavements reduced some pollutants and managed stormwater but degraded faster than conventional pavement on arterial lanes and require specialized, expensive cleaning equipment to restore infiltration.
Sharp Avenue permeable-pavement trial showed benefits for stormwater control and pollutant reduction but revealed durability and maintenance trade-offs for arterial streets.
City environmental manager Trey George told the Spokane Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board on July that the 2018 Sharp Avenue installation of porous asphalt and pervious concrete — a trial funded in part by the Washington State Department of Ecology — was installed to test durability, minimize roadway flooding and evaluate water-quality treatment.
The study matters because permeable pavement is often proposed as a way to reduce runoff in built-up urban areas where conventional swales or large green spaces are not feasible.
City staff described the project design, monitoring and maintenance history, findings on pavement condition and pollutant removal, and the equipment and cost required to restore infiltration after clogging.
"Porous pavement will inherently plug with sediment and requires…
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