The City of Buffalo is testing out its first porous street. That’s right, Clarendon Place in North Buffalo now has pervious pavement asphalt, which allows rainwater to permeate directly into the ground. This would be an incredibly green initiative if implemented throughout the city. The initiative would reduce the amount of storm water entering the sewers, which would also help to curb the amount of rain runoff that contributes to excessive overflow into our waters. That would mean less sewage entering our waters since combined sewer overflow system is comprised of a mixture of rain water and sewage.
This recent green pilot program is made possible thanks to a $750,000 State Grant (Green Innovation Grant Program from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation), and is part of an even larger $3,000,000 grant that the Buffalo Sewer Authority is utilizing towards creating green street treatments (see Elmwood for example). These types of green measures are in the process of being monitored so that the amount of water seeping into the asphalt (through pervious pavement and rain gardens) can be tracked.
The Green Innovation Grant Program is funded through the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was submitted jointly by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.
Photo: Mayor Brown demonstrated
how the street functioned by pouring water onto the asphalt which quickly
evaporated.
how the street functioned by pouring water onto the asphalt which quickly
evaporated.