City of St. Louis Permeable Pavement Alley Pilot Study

The City of St. Louis Board of Public Service (BPS) formed a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), CH2M Hill, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD), Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville (SIUE), and East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) in mid-2007 to find ways to incorporate low impact development (LID) techniques into City of St. Louis projects. The team identified pervious paving as the first best management practice (BMP) to investigate due to the multiple benefits it provides and the ample opportunity to utilize the practice in City-owned projects. This project is one of many initiatives in the City of St. Louis Climate Change Plan. Impervious surfaces, such as roads, rooftops and sidewalks within the City of St. Louis contribute to water quality and quantity problems as well as the urban heat island. Converting impervious surfaces to pervious paving, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized best management practice (BMP), reduces stormwater runoff, captures peak flows, replenishes water tables and aquifers, minimizes flash flooding and standing water, prevents warm and polluted water from entering the streams, mitigates surface pollutants and reduces heat island effect. Pilot study data will be used to support a change in City of St. Louis policy to potentially require pervious paving in its alleys city wide. The data will also be used to promote change in private developments and other City paving projects where appropriate. The results will be used by MSD to determine if permeable pavements can be used as BMP either in junction with other BMPs or as a stand-alone BMP.