Permeable paving contributes to stormwater management by promoting what?

• A. Infiltration of water
• B. It increases runoff
• C. Groundwater recharge through infiltration
• D. Increased evaporation

Answer: (C)

Permeable paving is designed to let rainwater soak through the surface rather than become runoff. That infiltration allows water to move down into the soil, where it can recharge groundwater and contribute to baseflow in streams. The strongest description of this benefit is groundwater recharge through infiltration, because it names both the process (infiltration) and the resulting impact on the groundwater system. While infiltration of water is true, grounding it in groundwater recharge shows the practical stormwater management outcome. Evaporation isn’t the primary effect of permeable paving, and increasing runoff would be the opposite of what these systems achieve.