Concrete is Sustainable
Less than 1% of the water on Earth is drinkable, and the larger our cities grow, the more at risk our natural sources of drinking water become. Natural land covers like grasslands and forests are being replaced by parking lots and streets. As a result, rainwater has nowhere to go. Instead of returning to the ground, it runs off these sealed surfaces causing flooding, erosion, and contamination of streams and lakes. Pervious concrete may be the solution. Unlike asphalt, it allows rainwater to filter through to the underlying soil, where it belongs. This supports tree growth, protects fisheries, and replenishes the water tables and aquifers we rely on for drinking water.
Concrete is Cleaner
Drinking water isn’t only limited, it’s increasingly at risk due to pollution coming from our roadways. As rainwater runs off sealed surfaces like parking lots and streets, it accumulates bacteria, chemicals, and other pollutants. While asphalt has been found to contain harmful carcinogenic petroleum hydrocarbons that contribute to the problem, pervious concrete has been recognized by the EPA as a way to manage contamination. Not only does the porous structure allow water to return to the ground, it provides a medium for bacteria to break down many of the pollutants that would otherwise seep into the groundwater.
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