SEATTLE – Improving water quality through better permeable pavement is the focus of a research and development collaboration announced by Boeing, Washington State University and the Washington Stormwater Center.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified improved permeable pavement as a positive step to mitigating stormwater issues in Washington state. In addition, the state requires low-impact development wherever feasible in western Washingon, and permeable pavement is one way to achieve that.
The porous concrete or asphalt, which allows stormwater to seep into the ground instead of running off to waterways, improves water quality by reducing flow, filtering pollutants and returning water to the water table.
Boeing is supporting the Washington Stormwater Center, a collaboration between WSU and the University of Washington, through a $212,000 research grant and donation of cured carbon fiber composite material. The material will be recycled to develop stronger permeable pavement.
The grant will support research programs at the WSU Research and Extension Center in Puyallup, Wash., and on the WSU Pullman campus.
Read the full story at https://news.wsu.edu/2015/11/10/partnership-recycles-carbon-fiber-to-permeable-pavement/