Permeable Paving and WSUD: Building Resilient, Water-Sensitive Cities
All over the world, cities are facing the twin challenges of increasing urban density and more frequent extreme weather events. Stormwater management has become one of the most critical issues for urban planners, engineers, and landscape architects. One of the most effective strategies is Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), an approach that integrates natural water cycles into the built environment.
At the heart of WSUD is the principle of slowing, filtering, and reusing water where it falls. This is where permeable paving systems play a vital role.
Why Permeable Paving Matters
Traditional hard surfaces (such as concrete, asphalt, and non-porous pavers) shed rainwater instantly. This runoff:
- Overwhelms stormwater drains
- Increases the risk of flash flooding
- Carries pollutants into waterways
- Prevents groundwater recharge
In contrast, permeable paving allows water to infiltrate directly into the ground beneath. This slows the flow of water, filters pollutants, reduces runoff volumes, and helps replenish local aquifers. In WSUD systems, permeable paving is an essential water management tool.
For this reason, WaterUps has partnered with our European distributor, BERA BV to bring a stylish and functional permeable paving landscape design product to Australia.
BERA BV Gravel Fix: An Effective Permeable Paving Solution
BERA BV Gravel Fix is a stabilisation grid system that transforms loose gravel into a durable, permeable, and low-maintenance ground surface. What differentiates Gravel Fix from competitor products is that it contains a geotextile base that is ultrasonically welded to the base of the geohexes. This keeps the gravel in place and minimises the need for ongoing maintenance.
Key Benefits of Gravel Fix:
- High Infiltration Capacity
- Durability
- Versatility
- Sustainability
Permeable paving with Gravel Fix supports core WSUD objectives by:
- Reducing stormwater runoff volumes, easing the burden on city drains
- Filtering pollutants naturally through gravel and subsoil layers
- Supporting water detention and retention
- Increasing resilience of urban areas, equipping them to endure intense rainfall events
At WaterUps, we are actively exploring ways to combine permeable paving with detention and retention systems so that stormwater can be both managed and repurposed, helping green our cities while conserving finite water supplies.
A Water-Sensitive Future
For urban designers, councils, and developers, the integration of permeable paving is a necessity for climate resilience. Products like BERA BV Gravel Fix demonstrate how functionality, sustainability, and design can work hand in hand to deliver water-sensitive outcomes.
At WaterUps, we see permeable paving as part of a holistic strategy, combining perched water tables, sub-irrigation, biofiltration, and stormwater detention/retention to create cities that are cooler, greener, and more sustainable.
