Best Ways to Deal with Storm Water

As more communities limit the amount of impervious surfaces (rooftops, conventional hardscape) allowed on residential lots, interest in pervious paving has skyrocketed. "It can literally be a trade-off between installing a pervious driveway and adding a room," says designer Jan Johnsen. "Or a question of whether you can build that new patio at all." In those cases, pervious paving is not only an attractive way to deal with runoff, it's a double-duty enhancement, one that lets you keep on improving your home while you safeguard its natural environment.

Shown: Some concrete pavers have larger spaces to hold sand and turf grass, which absorb some storm water near the surface.