Rice tests water-permeable sidewalk

Rice tests water-permeable sidewalk

BY JESSICA JOHNS POOL
Special to the Rice News

If a short section of sidewalk near the Abercrombie parking lot tests well, Rice could become one of the first places in Houston to use water-permeable concrete on a large scale.

JEFF FITLOW

Max Amery, senior facilities engineer and project manager, demonstrates how  pervious concrete allows water to drain through rather than run off the surface.

Called pervious concrete, the product allows water to drain through rather than run off the surface. Environmental benefits include allowing water to percolate back into the soil or be detained rather than being channeled directly into storm drains; a surface that isn’t slippery when wet; and a brighter surface that helps reflect heat.

JEFF FITLOW

The biggest cost benefit to using pervious concrete, said Max Amery, senior facilities engineer and project manager, is that it reduces or eliminates the need for water retention areas to contain run-off, which can be quite expensive in space-limited areas like a city or campus.

The City of Houston is currently trying to decide how to revise its codes to accommodate the use of pervious concrete. Some different techniques and tools are required to install pervious concrete versus the traditional kind, and the finished look and texture is rougher than a traditional sidewalk.

”If our test patch continues to perform well, this could be an exciting addition to our portfolio of ”green” products for building new and repairing old walkways and parking areas on campus,” said Barbara White Bryson, associate vice president, facilities, engineering and planning. ”It could allow us to better manage the rainwater nature gives us.”