Cities of the future will be layered cities. Every surface will need to fulfill several functions. Nowadays, carparks and driveways are surfaces occupying a vast amount of urban space, for just their one purpose and create huge amounts of run-off during rain events, emphasizing the negative effects of climate change. These surfaces harbour a huge potential for circular water management.
By using permeable or porous surfaces on top of a Permavoid subbase, a system solution is created capable of catching and storing rainwater on-site, without the need for large tanks, valves, control systems or pipes. The water is and remains available for on site infiltration or reuses such as irrigation of local green space.
Impermeable surfaces with engineered source control drainage systems can also be constructed to follow SUDS principles. The Permachannel system can be used in conjunction with an impermeable surfacing and it will provide a more effective means to treating pollution than conventional drainage systems and oil separators, as well as an effective means of controlling and, where necessary, storing run-off.
Car parks and driveways that store and reuse water on site, rather than discharge it to an already stressed sewer network.