Porous Aspahlt Pavement Maintenance Evaluation
Focus Area
Water Quality/Wetlands
Subcommittee
Natural Resources
Status
Archived
Cost
Under $99k
Timeframe
Under 1 year
Research Idea Scope
The use of porous asphalt pavement (PAP) can purify stormwater runoff and recharge the groundwater. PAP is one of the acceptable structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be used to meet current stormwater management criteria. Given the value of employing PAP, there exists a need to explore the maintenance of PAP. Conducting PAP maintenance research could offer valuable information for designers and evaluators when they try to determine whether to utilize PAP as a stormwater management method in the project. Currently, the PAP routine maintenance is designed to prevent the pavement surface from being clogged with sediments. This routine maintenance is usually done by vacuuming the pavement surface biannually with a commercial cleaning unit. The contaminant (organic compounds, heavy metals) removal efficiency of the PAP before and after vacuuming has not been evaluated. An understanding of the impact of vacuuming on PAP contaminant removal will help to set up a more scientific maintenance plan and maintain a better water quality for a longer period of time.
Urgency and Payoff
The current state of practice for routine maintenance of PAP is based solely on the assumption that PAP loses its inflitration capacity in a short period of time. The current state of practice does not consider impacts on pollutant removal capacity. A more fact based analysis may demonstrate that there is an optimum vacumming frequency that best balances infiltration and pollutant removal capacity. Analysis may demonstrate that a reduced vacumming schedule offers an overall net benefit, and may lower maintenance costs.
Suggested By
Peter Healey Rhode Island Department of Transportation 401-222-2023 X4039
Submitted
06/17/2014