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Nature-Based Urban Drainage Solutions Using Industrial Waste-Incorporated Pervious Concrete Pavements
Summary
Scientists tested special concrete made with recycled materials like old concrete and ceramic waste to see if it could clean dirty stormwater runoff from city streets. The recycled concrete worked well at filtering out pollution and dirt from the water while staying strong enough for sidewalks and parking lots. This matters because cleaner stormwater means less pollution flowing into rivers and drinking water sources that affect human health.
Pervious concrete pavements have gained increasing attention as a sustainable stormwater management solution due to their ability to reduce runoff volume and improve water quality through infiltration. This study investigates the stormwater runoff treatment potential and performance efficiency of pervious concrete pavements incorporating industrial waste materials, namely recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), ceramic waste (C), and waste tires (T), as partial replacements for natural coarse aggregates. Concrete mixes were prepared by replacing 10%, 20%, and 30% of the coarse aggregate volume with each waste material, and the results were compared with normal pervious concrete. Stormwater runoff treatment performance was evaluated by analyzing key water quality parameters, including total suspended solids (TSSs), pH, turbidity, color, and electrical conductivity (EC), using collected urban runoff samples. In addition, mechanical properties (compressive, tensile, and flexural strength) and hydraulic properties (porosity and infiltration rate) were assessed to ensure structural and functional suitability. The results demonstrate that pervious concrete pavements incorporating industrial waste materials exhibit effective pollutant removal while maintaining acceptable mechanical performance in accordance with ASTM standards. Among the investigated pervious concrete types, pavements containing 10% recycled concrete aggregate and 10% ceramic waste showed superior reductions in TSS, turbidity, and color compared to other waste-based and normal pervious concrete mixes. This study demonstrated significant reductions in particulate pollutants (TSS, turbidity, and color), while increases in pH and electrical conductivity highlighted early-age ion leaching from the concrete matrix, underscoring both the treatment benefits and the need for long-term monitoring under realistic deployment conditions. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of industrial waste-based pervious concrete pavements as an environmentally sustainable and effective solution for urban stormwater management.
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