Evaluation of Pervious Concrete Pavement for Phreatic Groundwater Recharge

https://doi.org/10.46610/JoCCS.2026.v011i03.004

Abstract

The amount of impervious surfaces associated with urban development has increased, altering the natural flow of rainwater and reducing the amount of rainfall that can infiltrate into the ground. Concrete and bituminous roads also tend to direct much of the rainfall into the drainage system, thereby increasing surface runoff and reducing groundwater recharge. Pervious concrete pavement is an alternative approach where interconnected voids in the concrete allow water to flow through the pavement structure. This study investigates the possibility of pervious concrete pavement to improve infiltration and to contribute to the recharge of the phreatic zone. The main difference between pervious concrete and conventional concrete is the open-graded aggregate structure and limited or no use of fine aggregate. Thus, this network of interconnected pores provides a conduit for water movement through the pavement. Previous experimental studies have shown that the hydraulic performance of pervious concrete is greatly influenced by aggregate size, cement content, water-to-cement ratio, compaction, and void content. Field investigation of pervious concrete pavement in Ahmedabad indicated successful drainage and evaluated its strength, void ratio, permeability, and infiltration performance. The proposed method treats the pavement, granular sub-base, and underlying soil as an integrated infiltration system. Field studies of two-layer pervious concrete pavement systems have shown water infiltration through both the pervious concrete and the granular sub-base. Therefore, selecting the right pavement mix and sub-base is important to achieve sufficient permeability without sacrificing the required structural performance. The proposed system has the potential to reduce surface runoff, improve stormwater management, and provide an opportunity for groundwater recharge where site conditions permit.