Holcim is one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement and aggregates. We had an opportunity to work with them on a test project for their newly developed Pervious Concrete near lake shore Mississauga. We built the sign – pictured above with the then Mayor Hazel McCallion – which contains a demonstration of the concrete and how it allows water to run through it. With just a press of the button, you can see how pervious concrete allows water to percolate through itself and to the soil. The sign explains well how Pervious concrete works:

“This pervious parking lot and walkway built by Holcim provides an innovative, sustainable solution to the stormwater problem. The rush of stormwater after heavy rains poses an environmental challenge in urban areas blanketed by hard surfaces.

As stormwater runs over roofs, roads and parking lots water picks up impurities that find their way into storm sewers, local  creeks  rivers and wetlands. Pervious concrete puts rainwater back in the ground where it belongs and also reduces the need for retention ponds, swales, and other stormwater management devices.

Pervious concrete is significantly more porous than traditional concrete. It contains less sand and more air, allowing water to percolate through and into the soil where it is naturally filtered helping to replenish the ground water supply.”