To encourage residents to implement practices that will help alleviate pressure on the city’s storm sewer infrastructure and improve water quality. The City of Iowa City offers a maximum reimbursement of half the practice’s total cost up to a maximum of $3,000. Reimbursement is offered on a first come, first served basis. The practice’s reimbursement application must be approved by the City of Iowa City prior to the initiate work being done to qualify for 50% reimbursement.

To apply for this cost-share, please complete and submit the Storm Water Cost-Share Application, accompany with the Permeable Paver Checklist and the contractor’s price quote below:

• Storm Water Cost-Share Application
• Permeable Paver Checklist

Please email your application package to the Stormwater Specialist at carp@iowa-city.org, or mail it to:

Attn: Stormwater Specialist
410 E. Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52440

If you have any questions, please contact the Stormwater Specialist at (319) 356-5158.

The pavers themselves are not permeable, but the joint space between each paver allows runoff to infiltrate into the lower granule chambers of the system that filters out many of the toxins that enter it. All pavers come with prefab spacing tabs to provide the perfect joint width between each paver. The joint is either filled with granules or left open depending on the type of paver system you decide to install. Any debris or sediment that is collected within the system is usually easily removed by performing basic maintenance procedures.

Typical preventive and maintenance practices for the 2 types of paver systems:

Granule-filled joint systems

Preventive Maintenance:

• Establish and sustain stabilization practices surrounding the permeable paver system to prevent eroded sediment from flowing onto it. 
• Maintain rain gutters or install gutter guards to the gutters that directly discharge onto the system.
• Keep leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from collecting and decomposing on the pavers.
• Air sweep (ex. leaf blower) the system on a weekly or biweekly basis.
• Never use sand or any other non-dissolvable solid on the system.
• Do not use landscaping material (wood mulch, etc.) adjacent to the system where the ground elevation ascends.
• Check for ponding water during rain events. If observed, implement maintenance practices once the area has dried.
• Never use the permeable paver system as a temporarily staging area for granule, organic (wood mulch, etc.), or other fine materials that can accumulate between the pavers.

Standard Maintenance:

• Immediately remove any debris (leaves, grass clippings, soils, and other organic material) deposits.
• Inspect the drain outfall (if equipped with one) for obstructions. NOTE: If ponding is not occurring across the system, there is no reason to be concern if water flow is not observed discharging from the outfall during a rain event. The infiltration rate of the sub-soil under the system is equivalent to the system’s current infiltration rate.
• Upon observing ponding or storm water runoff from the system, replace the aggregate between the pavers by vacuuming the entire system and sweeping in clean aggregate. 
• Vacuum and replace the aggregate from the joints once ponding is observed in an area, or when the aggregate is more than half an inch below the pavers. 
• Never use pressure washers to clean between the pavers. Using a pressure washers will only push the trapped sediment further down into the system, becoming inaccessible.

 Open Joint Systems

Preventive Maintenance:

• Establish and sustain stabilization practices around the permeable paver system to prevent eroded sediment from flowing onto it. 
• Maintain rain gutters or install gutter guards to the gutters that directly discharge to the system.
• Keep leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from collecting and decomposing on the pavers.
• Air sweep (ex. leaf blower) the system on a weekly or biweekly basis.
• Never use sand or any other non-dissolvable solid on the system.
• Do not use landscaping material (wood mulch, etc.) adjacent to the system where the ground elevation ascends.
• Check for ponding water during rain events. If observed, implement maintenance practices once the area has dried.
• Never use the permeable paver system as a temporarily staging area for granule, organic (wood mulch, etc.), or other fine materials that can accumulate between the paver joints.

Standard Maintenance:

• Immediately remove any debris (leaves, grass clippings, soils, and other organic material) deposits.
• At minimum, vacuum the entire system once year. However, it is highly recommended to routinely vacuum the system once a month during late spring, summer, and fall seasons.
• Inspect the drain outfall (if equipped with one) for obstructions. NOTE: If ponding is not occurring across the system, there is no reason to be concern if water flow is not observed discharging from the outfall during a rain event. The infiltration rate of the sub-soil under the system is equivalent to the system’s current infiltration rate.
• Upon observing ponding or storm water runoff from the system, vacuum the paver’s joint to clean out deposits that have accumulated within them.
• Never use pressure washers to clean between the pavers. Using a pressure washers will only push the trapped sediment further down into the system, becoming inaccessible.