Aquifer replenishing gutter: US Patent No. 7,699,557

U.S. Patent No. 7,699,557, issued on April 20, 2010 to Lithocrete, Inc. of Costa Mesa, CA, discloses a pavement gutter which filters precipitation while allowing it to flow to a groundwater aquifer below.

Man-made structures, such as roads and buildings, are generally impermeable to water, so they block precipitation from flowing into the underlying soil.  Instead, storm drainage systems generally channel the precipitation to a remote location, where it may be collected and treated for use, or may just flow out to the ocean.  The gutter system disclosed by the ’557 patent is designed to allow precipitation to flow into the soil in the immediate vicinity, so it can replenish the groundwater in underlying aquifers. 

Lithocrete’s website explains that its patented Oceansafe™ storm water management system “gathers, filters, stores, and allows the water to naturally percolate through the natural soil below … the same way it has done for millions of years,”  and includes a presentation which touts the system’s benefits. 

The company’s promotional brochure on Lithocrete’s website explains that its R&D efforts result in “patented innovations that meet [their] clients’ requirements and challenges, and contribute to the structural and aesthetic improvement of [their] industry on a national and worldwide scale.”  The brochure also shows installations of Lithocrete’s products at many locations familiar to Orange County residents, including the offices of Knobbe Martens (on page 4).