Porous tarmac system: Porous asphalt to reduce flooding

How can asphalt help to reduce flooding?

The combined effect of climate change, population growth and increasing urbanisation means that major flooding events are likely to become more frequent in the UK. Future flooding from increasing heavy rainfall patterns are of a concern to water companies and local authorities as high volumes of storm water runoff are placing an increased burden on existing drainage systems and urban watercourses. Pollutants settling on impervious surfaces are swept along and discharged into treatment plants or directly into rivers and streams. Balancing ponds are often used to collect and attenuate the rate of runoff from road and footpath surfaces, however whilst effective they often occupy land that could be built on. Developing sites with hard impervious paved areas and roofs prevents the natural dissipation of storm water and increases both the rate and volume of run off.

So what’s the solution? The answer lies underground, not with the current drainage system, but with a new Sustainable Uran Drainage System (SUDS).

What is SuDS?

SuDs stands for Sustainable Urban Drainage System.

Handling this added pressure of volume and water quality is fast becoming a developer’s responsibility rather than the local water authorities. SuDs could be the answer.

How do SuDS work?

SuDS combine a series of environmentally friendly elements to manage surface water run off as close to its origin as possible, before it enters the watercourse. These elements are made up of ponds, swales and infiltration strips that improve biodiversity, provide aesthetic and practical amenities whilst at the same time reducing the risk of flooding. Importantly, SuDS remove the need for any additional drainage systems, making them much more cost effective.

Tarmac's solution

TarmacDry is a porous asphalt system that takes control of rain water management by working with nature. It is designed to capture rain and surface water before either storing it for recycling, releasing it immediately into the sub-grade or performing a controlled release into the existing drainage. can make retail developments and industrial construction projects much more cost-effective with the help of a shorter construction time.