PaveDrain

The PaveDrain System allows for a more natural, vertical infiltration path, recharging local groundwater and reducing first-flush pollutants. PaveDrain is an ADA-compliant, durable permeable surfacing product that is ideal for roadways, parking lots, emergency access roads, walkways, and campuses. This system consists of 1ft x 1ft articulated concrete blocks that are separated from one another by ¼in gaps creating a permanent concrete surface that flows at over 1,500 in/hr/sf. A patented arch design is in the middle of each articulating concrete block to create an internal storage chamber that can be used as a reservoir for stormwater runoff while simultaneously providing strength for heavy vehicular loads.
PaveDrain is infiltration, storage, detention, conveyance and a paving surface all in one. When combined, these features allow for a reduction or elimination in stormwater infrastructure costs while minimizing environmental impact. Unlike other permeable paving systems, PaveDrain does not require nor specify filling the joints with sand or aggregates to bind the system together. No concrete borders or headers are required to hold the system in-place: simply grade, place crushed rock, install PaveDrain, and then either landscape or pave up to the system. PaveDrain does not require the costly maintenance required by conventional methods and is the perfect answer to the shortcomings of traditional permeable paving products.
Installed throughout California and the Southwest by California Filtration Specialists, these systems only require biennial maintenance, as needed. PaveDrain systems have been installed in desert and mountain regions for multiple years without any required cleaning and the system still flows at over 1,500in/hr/sf!
- Parking Lots
- Public Roads
- Crosswalks
- Sidewalks
- Public Spaces
- Residential Driveways
- Emergency Access Roads
- Intersections
- Trench Drains
- Parks
- Flow rates of 1,500in/hr/sf
- Over HS-20 Loading
- 50-Year Lifespan
- Reduce Stormwater Treatment Volumes – 100% Permeable
- Available in several color options
- Up to 5 LEED Credits: Sustainable Sites; Credit 6.1, 6.2, 5.1, 5.7 & Materials & Resources: Credit 5.1
- Initial installations show a drastic reduction in the use of deicing salts over traditional asphalt and concrete surfaces
- Installed by hand or with conventional construction equipment in all types of weather for fast, economical installations
- Available in multiple mat sizes for customized applications
- No seams to catch on snow plows with steel or rubber-tipped blades
- Increased skid resistance over traditional pavements
- Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) range of 36 – 41 for lighter-colored units
- Unlike traditional catch basins, varmints cannot enter the drainage system
- Regional manufacturing supports local economies
- Adaptable to small areas (retrofits) where retention ponds are outdated or not practical
System Properties
Thickness: 5.65” (+ 1/8”)
Unit Dimensions: 12.00” x 12.00”
Unit Weight: 45-49 lbs.
Units/SF: 1 SF Nominal
Percentage Open Space: 7% Surface, 20% Storage Area
Technical Details
- Brochures
- Case Studies/Reports
- Letter – Goshen, IN
- PaveDrain Response, Comments
- PaveDrain Final Report
- Case Study – Highland Ave Parking Lot in Melbourne, FL
- Case Study – Charles Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, CA
- Case Study – Pinecrest Recreational Area in Pinecrest, CA
- Case Study – Self Realization Fellowship in San Diego, CA
- Installation Manual
- Project Pictures
- Maintenance Manuals
- Standard Details

States we Serve: Arizona, California, and Nevada