Articles / May 27, 2025

Infrastructure Outlook: Engineering Future-Ready and Stormwater-Resilient Infrastructure Projects with Porous Pavers

The challenges posed by urban flooding and stormwater issues continue to weigh heavily on the shoulders of engineers, planners and their clients. Water, flowing rapidly over impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, causes more than just ecological damage. In extreme weather events, the sheer volume of uncontrolled water can severely damage infrastructure by cracking foundations, flooding basements and accelerating soil erosion. These issues compromise the structural longevity of buildings and result in substantial repair costs, underscoring the need for resilient and adaptive stormwater management strategies.

Porous pavers provide a simple and earth-friendly solution for managing stormwater in small- and large-scale projects. Their grid-like structure, filled with grass or gravel, promotes water infiltration, reducing runoff on the site. Like other permeable options such as concrete blocks, porous asphalt and concrete, they can be integrated around the building in various applications. However, porous pavers’ unique configuration allows for more efficient management of larger stormwater volumes. Engineers can leverage this performance capability to protect the structural integrity of their projects while also contributing to broader sustainability objectives.

Higher Void Spaces Enhance Drainage Performance

Among the various permeable paving solutions, plastic porous paving systems can achieve drainage rates as high as 32.5 inches per square foot per hour. In comparison, permeable concrete blocks and porous asphalt may drain only 6.4 inches per square foot per hour, depending on installation patterns and mixture specification. The effectiveness of porous pavers stems from their unique grid-like structure, which can feature up to 92 percent void spaces, which typically are filled with gravel or grass. In contrast, other pavers generally provide only 8 to 25 percent void space.

This higher percentage of voids significantly improves the drainage rate, reducing the speed of surface runoff and allowing larger volumes of stormwater to quickly seep into the ground. Because it eliminates standing water from the site more efficiently, porous pavers can prove to be a smart solution to mitigate stormwater damage and retain the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure.

Versatile Applications for Varied Project Needs

Porous pavers’ configuration and ability to accommodate different infill options make them highly versatile. The void spaces can be filled with root-friendly sand mixes to create an environment conducive to the growth of natural grass and low-maintenance plants. With grass and vegetation infill, plastic porous pavers are nearly invisible from sight. Their ability to blend seamlessly into green landscapes makes porous pavers even more suitable for green spaces in the building complex, such as gardens, turfs and urban parks.

Beyond facilitating a beautiful green landscape, sand infill increases the system’s compressive strength and improves drainage by helping rainwater penetrate the ground. Plastic porous pavers also exhibit excellent inherent compressive strength—up to five times that of concrete—making them suitable for the building’s parking lots, fire lanes and pedestrian walkways.

Unlike alternative permeable options, which may crack under heavy loads, many plastic porous pavers can withstand the weight and pressure of heavy vehicles without rutting or uplifting. Additionally, they are resilient in extreme weather conditions, including freeze-thaw cycles, making them a reliable solution for projects with varied environmental challenges.

Sustainability Benefits of Porous Pavers

Beyond their practical advantages, porous pavers support broader sustainability goals and can contribute to LEED and SITES credits. Vegetated porous paving acts as a natural filter, removing pollutants and environmental toxins from runoff through bioremediation. In this process, pollutant-degrading microorganisms grow with subsurface elements, cleansing water before reaching groundwater.

Grass-filled porous pavers also help mitigate climate change. A study by University of California, Davis, found that grasslands are more resilient carbon sinks than forests, as they are less affected by droughts and wildfires. Additionally, by promoting greenery and water infiltration, porous pavers help cool the surrounding environment, reducing the urban heat-island effect. They also absorb sound waves, effectively reducing noise pollution in urban areas.

Building for the Future

As stormwater management and resilient infrastructure become increasingly critical, engineers can benefit from integrating porous pavers into their projects. This innovative solution offers superior performance, adaptability and long-term durability, making them a smart choice to improve functional outcomes as well as contribute to advancing sustainability goals.

About Olivia Harris

Olivia Harris is the president of Invisible Structures, a leading designer and manufacturer of porous paving and stormwater management solutions; email: olivia@invisiblestructures.com.