PerviousWalkways:

ReturningWaterOneStepataTime
ProjectProposal

EmilyPeraria,JohnTartaglia,RitchieSmith
EnvironmentalSustainability(SUST2100)
TaitChirenje
TheRichardStocktonUniversityofNewJersey
Fall2015

TableofContents
I.

MissionStatement3

II.

Abstract....3

III.

StatementofNeed....3

IV.

StatementofInterest............4

V.

ProjectRationale.56
A. ReducesStormwaterRunoff
B. PreventstheHeatIslandEffect
C. HelpsRepelSaltwaterIntrusion
D. CanBeUsedforBothPedestrianandLowImpactVehicularApplications
E. IsNotNegativelyImpactedbyFreeze/SnowConditions

VI.

CourseofAction..7

VII.

DetailedProjectDescription.78
A.
B.
C.
D.

Goal
Budget
Resources
Success

VIII.ImplementationExamples&Recommendations......89
IX.References10

MissionStatement
OurproposedmissionistohelpStocktonUniversityachievethehighstandardsofbeing
anenvironmentallyconsciouscampus.Thisgroupintendstoreducetheamountofstormwater
runoffandwaterwaypollutionbyproposingtheimplementationofperviousconcreteand
permeablematerialsforallnewwalkwaysbeinginstalledinStocktonUniversitysnewcampus
plans(asdescribedintheApril2010MasterPlan).
Abstract
ThegoalofthisproposalistoenforcetheuseofperviouspavementsurfacesinStockton
Universitysnewcampusinstallments.Currently,thecampusparkinglotsarecomposedof
asphaltandthewalkwaysarecomposedofconcrete.Thesesurfaces,whilerelativelyinexpensive
toproduceandeasytolay,comewithmajorsideeffectsthatcauseseriousdamagetowaterways,
and,eventually,majorbodiesofwater.Theimpervioussurfacesofasphaltandconcretecreatea
slidefortoxicwaterfromrainstorms,snow,andlandscapingprocessestotraveldown.These
pollutedwaterswilleventuallyfindtheirwayintostreamsandcreeks,andultimately,major
bodiesofwater.Byimplementingpervious(porous)concrete,rainwaterrunoffwillseepdirectly
backintotheground,pickingupminimalpollutantsandchemicalsandrechargingtheaquifer.
Thesesurfaces,whilepriciertoproduceandlaydown,willprovideStocktonUniversitywithan
ingenioustooltomitigateincreasingwatertoxicityintheestuariesofSouthJersey.
StatementofNeed
Cleanwaterisbecominganincreasinglycommonissueasurbansprawlandthe
constructionofnewcomplexescreatestheneedformoreparkingandwalkways.Waterfrom
impervioussurfacesslidesdowntheconcreteandasphalt,flowingintocreeksandstreams.
Ultimately,allriversleadtotheocean.Thesetoxicwatersflowintomajorbodiesofwater,as
wellaslocalbaysandestuaries.Thiscausesanincreaseinfishkills,bacterialgrowth,and
overallwatertoxicity.

StatementofInterest
AstheGreenCollegeofNewJersey,StocktonUniversitytakesimmenseprideinits
sustainablemeasuresextracaretakentoinnovativeenvironmentaltechnologies.Unfortunately,
Stocktonslargecommuterpopulationhasdrawntheuniversityawayfromitsexceedinglygreen
status.Whilethereisnoeasywaytoreducecarbonemissionsorthehugecarbonfootprint
StocktonUniversitycreatesduetoautomobileuse,thereisachangetheschoolcanmaketoits
stormwaterrunoffissuesduetofoottrafficandcars.BeingthatStocktonUniversityexists
essentiallyrightontopofstreambeds,rightnexttotwolargelakes,andashortfiveminutes
awayfromNacoteCreekandthesurroundingprotectedmarshland,itisfittingthattheschoolbe
concernedwithwatertoxicity.Ifoneweretotakeanygeologyormarinesciencecoursehereat
Stockton,inevitably,heorshewouldlearnabouttoxicwaterrunoffanditsmanycauses.
Therefore,itiscrucialthatStocktonUniversitytakesstepstoensurethatLakesFredandPam,
localstreams,andNewJerseybayestuariesareharmedaslittleaspossiblebytheoverwhelming
influxofcommuterstudentsandpavedrecreationalareas.
TheStockton2020MasterPlanincludesaproposedparkorrecreationareainfrontofthe
CampusCenterwhereparkingcurrentlyexists.Whilethisporouspavementproposalis
somethingwewouldultimatelyliketoseeimplementedinallparkingandwalkwaysituations,it
isunderstandablydifficulttoimplementtheminsomanyareasthatareeitherunderconstruction
orstillbeingreviewedforapprovalbycontractorsandconstructiondepartments.Ourproposal,
then,issimple:weproposethatallwalkwaysfortheaforementionedparkbepavedwithporous
andsustainablematerialsasausefulandtesterforpossibleimplementationelsewhereon
campus.Whilethisstepissmall,itwillbeastrongsteptowardsbringingnaturalbeauty,
sustainability,andconservationtogetherinathoughtfuldesignscheme.Notonlywillthe
walkwaysbepractical,theywillalsoserveasavisualrepresentationofStocktonsongoing
commitmenttosustainablearchitectureanddesign.Students,faculty,andvisitorsalikewillbe
abletoactuallyseeandfeeltheecologicalthoughtthatisputbehindthispavement,notjustread
aboutitinapamphlet.
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ProjectRationale
A. ReducesStormwaterRunoff:
Thewidespreadincreaseinurbanizedareashasledtoa
greatincreaseinwatertoxicityinareasundersurveillance.TheEPAstates,runoff
fromurbanizedareasistheleadingsourceofwaterqualityimpairmentstosurveyed
estuariesandthethirdlargestsourceofimpairmentstosurveyedlakes.(UnitedStates
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,2015)Impervioussurfacessuchasblacktops,orinthe
parkscase,concrete,generateaslideforstormwatertoflowdown,pickingup
drippinggasoline,litter,andothertoxicwastes.Thesepollutedflowseventuallymake
theirwayintolocalstreambeds,estuaries,lakes,bays,andtheocean.Pervioussurfaces
createaporousavenueforstormwater.Insteadofthewaterflowingdownpolluted
asphalt,thewaterseepsdirectlybackintotheground,pickinguptheveryminimumof
chemicalsandnoliter.
Ifporousconcreteislaidinplaceoftraditionalconcreteorbrickwalkways,the
amountofwaterrunoffwoulddecreasedramatically,reducingtheamountoftoxinsin
localstreambedsandLakesFredandPam,andultimately,thelocalmarshlands.Itis
estimatedthat10,000squarefeetoflawnwillabsorbroughly6,000gallonsofwater.
(EnvironmentalBenefits2010)Brickandconcreteabsorbwillabsorblittletono
rainwater.Thiswillultimatelyresultinlowerbacterialgrowthinbodiesofwater,cleaner
waterways,andthrivinglocalecosystems.
B. PreventstheHeatIslandEffect:
Heatislandsoccurinbuiltupareaswhereblacktops
areabundantandvegetationislow.Darkersurfacesabsorbmorelight,therefore
absorbingmoreheat.Inturn,theyradiatemoreheat.AccordingtotheEPA,onaverage,
theannualmeanairtemperatureofcitieswitharound1millionpeopleormorecanbe
anywherefrom1.8F5.4F.TheEPAsuggestsanincreaseinvegetationandpavements
thatabsorbwatertohelpcoolmetropolitanandurbanareas.(UnitedStates
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,2015)Surfacesthatabsorbwatercoolsurrounding
areas,asevaporativecoolingdrawsheatfromthesurface.(ReducingUrban,2015)
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C. HelpsRepelSaltwaterIntrusion:
Saltwaterintrusion,definedbySolinstaseither
Lateralencroachmentfromtheoceanduetoexcessivewaterwithdrawalsfromcoastal
aquifersorupwardmovementfromdeepersalinezonesduetoupconingnearcoastal
discharge/pumpingwalls,canberemediedbyrechargingtheaquifer.(Saltwater
Intrusion2015)Byrechargingthenaturalgroundwateraquifer,wewillbeableto
effectivelyrepeltheintrusionofsaltwaterintoournaturalwatertable.Perviousconcrete
isactuallymosteffectivewhenlaidoverunconsolidatedsediments(suchasthePine
Barrens),asitallowsforproperpercolationofrainwaterbackintothegroundand
aquifer.
D. CanBeUsedforBothPedestrianandLowImpactVehicularApplications:
Pervious
concreteisbothdurableandlowmaintenance.Whilestructurally,perviousconcreteis
weakerthantraditionalconcrete(compressivestrengthslessthan1000psi),itisan
outstandingoptionforparkinglots,walkways,andlowtrafficareas.(Pervious
Concrete2015)
E. IsNotNegativelyImpactedbyFreeze/SnowConditions:
Whileperviousconcrete
traditionallyseenasapoorchoiceforcoolernorthernareas,itisactuallyasubstantial
choiceforpavement.Pavementbreakdowniscausedprimarilybyfreeze/thawcyclesfor
pavementwithpoorpermeability.Permeablepavementsallowforsufficientdrainage,so
theareaofconcretewillfreezeasaporousmediumratherthanasolidchunkofconcrete.
Duetoitsopenpockets,waterinfiltrationallowsformaximuminfiltrationcapacity.
Whenitcomestoplowingandsaltingthesepavements,bothareencouraged,withsalting
beingrecommendedinmoderation.Chlorideuseinroadsaltsisasignificantcontributor
tostormwaterrunoff,andpermeablepavementdoesnottreatorfilterchloridesaturated
water.Perviouspavementalsominimizestheriskoffreezingandblackice,asitsrapid
drainagesystemreducesthechangeofsurfacewateraccumulation.(PerviousConcrete
Pavement,2015)

CourseofAction
Themostimportantfactorofthisprojectwouldbemeetingeveryspecificrequirement
forhandicapaccessibilities,thegeneralcriteriaforLEEDcertification,preservingtheintegrity
ofStocktonsreputation,andprovingtobeasustainableandcosteffectiveexecutiveaction.
Beforefinalizingourproposal,wewereabletomeetwiththeDirectorandProjectManagerof
theFacilitiesPlanningAdministrationofStocktonUniversity.Thetwogentlemensharedtheir
insightsemphasizingtheimportanceofthenecessaryrequirementsforthedesign,planning,and
maintenanceinorderforthisprojecttomanifestitselfandbeasuccess.

DetailedProjectDescription
A. Goal:
OurgoalistotransformthecampuslandscapeatStocktonintoamore
environmentallyfriendlycommunityandminimizingourdevelopmentalimpact.We
wanttoachievethisbyreplenishingthePinelandsaquifer,reducinglocalwatertoxicity,
andprotectingestuarinewildlife,whilekeepingpublichealthandsafetyinmind.
B. Budget:
Thebasiccostsofthisprojectwouldbesupportedbyafundspecificallyset
asidebytheFacilitiesPlanningdepartmentforprojectsofthismagnitude.Porous
concretematerialsarerelativelyinexpensive,runningabout$2$7persquarefooton
average.Assuminganyprivatecontractorwouldabidebythispricerange,webelieve
thisisarealisticopportunitycost.Severalfactorsinfluencetheoverallcost:material
availabilityandtransport,siteconditions,subgrade,stormwatermanagement
requirements,andprojectsize.(UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,2015)
C. Resources:
ComplyingwithLEEDrequirements,anyareathatappliesawalkable
surfaceshouldimplementagreeninfrastructurethatusespermeablematerials.Several
designpossibilitiescanachieveourobjective,suchasthevariousonesapprovedbythe
EPAlike:chokecourse,opengradedbasereservoirs,opengradedsubbasereservoirs,
underdrains,geotextiles,andsubgrades.Properlyinstalledperviousconcreterequires
trainedandexperiencedproducersandconstructioncontractors,whichinourbest
interests,shouldbeeasytoattract.(UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtection,2015)
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D. Success:
Thesuccessoftheimplementationofourproposalwillbemeasuredbyhowit
affectslocalecosystemsbyimprovingwaterqualityandrunoff,protectingthewatershed,
howwellwereduceourcarbonfootprint,andhowtheoverallprojectisperceivedbythe
StocktonCommunityandvisitors.Ifpeoplearecompelledtotakenoticeofvarious
relatedimplementations,thenthismightinclinemoreactiveparticipantsandgetpeople
engagedinwhattheaestheticdesignspropose.Aprojectlikethiswouldalsoattributeto
ourLEEDpointscertification,whichwillbesomethingmoreforourfellowscholarsand
colleaguestoboastabout.
Implementations
A. HershfieldPark(PomptonLakes,NJ)

In2009theboroughimplementedperviousconcreteintheparkswalkwaysand
sidewalks

Greatlyimprovedfloodinganddrainage

Abilitytohandlepolicevehiclesandgarbagetrucks

Entireprojectwasdoneoverthecourseofonesummer(wouldntinterferewithschool
year)

SimilarClimatetoStocktonsCampus(HershfieldPark,2009)

B.ChicagoGreenAlleyWays

In2004thecityneededtosolvetheproblemoffloodingintheiralleyways

Installedmultipleperviousandporoussurfacesthroughout

ReducedFlooding,runoff,andurbanheatislandeffect

Afterreviewing,theprojectconcludedthatalleysneedtobecleanedmonthlytoprevent
clogging,yetstillwastheirmostcosteffectivemethodtosolvetheirproblem(NRMCA|
LinktoMore,2015)

C.FindlayStadiumParkingArea(Chattanooga,TN)

Installedperviousconcreteinstripsnearparkingareaswhichwereslopedtodirectarea
totheperviousconcrete

Isabletoreducerunoff,catchcarfluidsandpollutants,andmanageflooding

Wateristhenrecycledandusedfortheplayingfield(TheParkingAreathatDrinks,
2015)

RecommendationsHereatStockton

Thereareseverallocationsatthisuniversitythatwouldbesuitablepossibilitiesto
implementandbenefitfrompervioussurfaces,

TheProposedGreenSpaceQuadwillhavewalkwaysthroughoutwhichwouldbeideal
forourproject.Beingthattheprojecthasnotundergoneconstructionyetitwouldallow
forperviouswalkwaystobeaddedwithoutmuchadjustmentintheplans.

Thespineofcampusalsohasafewplacesthatcouldinstallperviouswalkwaysona
smallscale.

WalkwaysbyLot0couldalsobeanideallocationtoimplementandtestouttheuseof
thissurfaceoncampus.

References
EnvironmentalBenefitsofGrass.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember20,2015,from
http://www.grogood.com/NewsAndMultiMedia/EnvironmentalBenefitsOfGrass

EPA.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember17,2015,from
http://www2.epa.gov/heatislands/usingcoolpavementsreduceheatislands
HershfieldParksportsnewtypeofporousconcretesidewalks(2009,November5).Retrieved
November22,2015from
http://www.northjersey.com/communitynews/recreation/hershfieldparksportsnewtypeofpor
ousconcretesidewalks1.317251

NRMCA|Applications&Promotion|TheParkingAreathatDrinksinChattanooga,TN.(n.d.)
RetrievedNovember21,2015,from
http://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/commercial/chat.asp
NRMCA|LinktoMore(n.d.)RetrievedfromNovember19,2015,from
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/10mayjun/05.cfm
PerviousConcrete.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember22,2015,from
http://www.cemexusa.com/ProductsServices/PerviousConcrete.aspxv

PerviousConcretePavement.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember22,2015from
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/swbmp/PerviousConcretePavement.cfm

SaltwaterIntrusion.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember19,2015,from
http://www.solinst.com/resources/papers/101c4salt.php

UrbanNonpointSourceFactSheet.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember172015,from
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/urban_facts.cfm

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