SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Five Rivers, Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, has worked to improve water quality in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta by installing permeable pavement to its parking areas, according to staffers. 

Installing pervious surfaces, such as permeable pavement, spurs storm water to soak into the ground instead of rushing off into local streams, according to Eve Brantley, agriculture program associate at Alabama Cooperative Extension System. This minimizes nonpoint source pollutants — such as rainfall picking up fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, oil, grease and toxic chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency —in the waters and helps recharge groundwater to protect the stability of streams.

The extension system aided Five Rivers with research about permeable pavement.

“We’re very excited about putting it in,” Shonda Borden, Five Rivers assistant manager, said.

Plastic pavers and grass are other permeable surfaces Five Rivers will use along with the pavement in their parking areas. Over time, staffers can compare and contrast each to test their durability, Borden said.

Permeable pavement allows water to percolate through the system itself and the biological processes break down that gasoline and oil. Preserving water quality depends on many things, including knowing what kind of runoff is coming off the surrounding land, Borden said.

“If a car is dripping oil or gas, all of that runs off into the nearest water body,” Borden said. “Even items such as cans in the parking lot have a negative affect.”

“Everything we can do to help it (the situation in the Delta) really makes improvement,” Borden said.

“It’s all about maintaining water quality.”

That’s a necessary feat, since 85 percent of Alabama waters drain through the Delta, according to Borden.

Water quality is very healthy in the Delta right now, Borden said. It’s like a big sponge and helps most when northern Alabama gets a lot of rain; the 700,000 plus streams in Alabama run to the Delta. Because it holds water so well, there is minimal flooding in Alabama.

Five Rivers is very cautious about safe water practices, according to Borden, who said water, pesticides and herbicides are used minimally there. Extra, unabsorbed pesticides run off into the Delta, which can cause a negative effect on water quality.

“We’re just very careful about everything we do around the property,” Borden said.

Pervious asphalt costs approximately $20 more per ton than does regular paving asphalt, according to the University of New Hampshire.

The project is set to be complete in September.

Five Rivers is a facility for outdoor recreation, conservation and land stewardship in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. It is located on the Causeway at 30945 Five Rivers Blvd. in Spanish Fort.

The center is open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is free.