Permeable pavement helps in conserving water

In developing a 114-acre community of luxury homes near Marengo, builder Leonard Besinger has broken ground, both literally and figuratively, with water conservation.

The Wildwood subdivision's streets, walkways and driveways feature permeable pavement, which allows controlled on-site stormwater drainage and filtered recharge of groundwater and the aquifer.

"This is the first permeable pavement system installation in the country for all hardscape areas throughout an entire single-family subdivision," Besinger said.

The system at Wildwood, expected to be finished Nov. 15, features a top layer of porous concrete bricks. Water flows through the 5-by-9-inch bricks and then passes through several layers of filtration elements, including aggregate bedding and permeable geo-textile fiber. The water then passes through perforated pipes and seeps into the subsoil.

"This way, runoff infiltrates directly into the soil and receives water-quality treatment," Besinger said.

The system eliminates the need for almost all swales alongside the roadways, thus preserving more land and trees, according to Besinger.

Permeable paving costs at least three times as much as asphalt paving.

"For a developer to put this in the price has always been prohibitive," Besinger said. "Fortunately, with these lots, the property is good enough to command a high price."

Homes in Wildwood start at $1.5 million with an average price of $2.5 million.

"People who are buying homes at a high price ought to have the best they can get," Besinger said.

Pointing to studies conducted by the Morton Arboretum, Besinger explained that permeable pavement, over time, holds up as well as, or better than conventional asphalt because of the solid sub-base provided by the stone reservoir and infiltration bed.

For maintenance, occasional sweeping or vacuuming of debris is required to make sure the holes in the permeable pavement do not clog.

"I'm no big tree hugger, but this land we're working with is just so beautiful, I feel we have to preserve it as best we can. I really think (permeable paving) is the way of the future," Besinger said.

Wildwood is located south of Marengo on West Coral Road, just east of Illinois Route 23.