Assessment of stormwater runoff in pavement of soil-cement blocks

ABSTRACT In this article, the authors assessed the runoff coefficient C (drained volume/volume precipitate), which defines the capacity reduction of runoff, of a pavement with soil-cement interlocking blocks (20.7 m long and 3 m wide) within a structure of transverse concrete beams deployed in an area with slope of 6% and low permeability soil, and similar conditions in areas occupied by poor populations. One hundred and eighty-four events (rainfall) were recorded, but only events with a precipitate volume greater than the maximum capacity storage of pavement (≈ 1,500 liters) and a temperature less than 23ºC, to maintain the accuracy of the measurement sensor, were considered. The experimental values of the coefficient C varied in the range of 0.47 to 0.79, confirming that the soil-cement block pavement is semi permeable.