University of California Pavement Research Center

Fully permeable pavements capture stormwater and infiltrate it into the ground and/or hold it until discharging it into stormwater conveyance. In either case, they offer benefits in terms of reducing or eliminating the need for stormwater conveyance infrastructure, capturing pollutants, and potentially reducing air temperatures around them. This technical memorandum reviews recent advances in structural design, materials, and hydraulic design that have filled many of the gaps in permeable pavement technology. The memo then presents the results of a recent survey in California, with some additional out-of-state responders, regarding awareness of permeable pavements and obstacles to their implementation. Finally, the memo presents recommendations for filling remaining knowledge gaps and overcoming obstacles to implementation.