Water detention system incorporating a composite draining membrane

Abstract

A water detention system comprises a sub-base of crushed rock or stone overlying an impermeable layer which may be naturally-occurring, as in an impermeable sub-grade, or may be formed by an impermeable membrane laid over the sub-grade prior to the sub-base layer. Over the sub-base layer is an incompletely impermeable layer the impermeability of which is compromised by openings in the form of slits or by spacing between adjacent strips forming the layer. These openings allow water to percolate downwardly through the layer into the sub-base, but substantially inhibit the escape of moisture by evaporation thereby serving to retain the collected water. Above the incompletely impermeable layer may be a laying course of finer particulate material such as pea gravel over which may be laid a wear surface of slabs or blocks to form an area for traffic, such as a roadway or parking area.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/GB2006/000474, entitled A Water Detention System Incorporating A Composite Membrane which was published as WO 2006/085095 which is based on and claims priority to Great Britain patent application number 0502861.8 filed Feb. 11, 2005 and Great Britain patent application number 0516866.1 filed Aug. 17, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a composite drainage membrane, and to a water detention system incorporating such a membrane.

RELATED ART

The use of SUDS (sustainable urban drainage systems) is increasing with the increasing awareness of the economy of installation and value in decontaminating and managing the water collection and drainage systems leading to water courses for the disposal of water falling on pavement surfaces. Known drainage systems are built to cope with a maximum expected precipitation, which may be exceeded from time to time. Changing meteorological conditions, however, are leading to situations where the peak rainfall for which a drainage system may have been designed is being exceeded increasingly frequently. Upgrading of systems to cope with increased amounts of run-off is extremely costly. There is also the contaminating and polluting effect of motor traffic resulting in heavy metals, hydrocarbons, rubber dust, silt and other fine detritus becoming deposited on the surfaces of roadways and car parks and subsequently being washed into the water courses causing long term pollution.

Sustainable urban drainage systems utilising permeable pavements and underlying layers of crushed rock over an impermeable sub-grade, or provided with an impermeable lining membrane, may be used to collect and store water for other purposes such as irrigation. When used for this purpose, however, especially in regions of high temperature, evaporation of the stored water, even though located in subterranean voids, can result in effective loss of a large proportion of the water collected.

The present invention seeks, therefore, to provide means by which such systems can be improved to allow rapid infiltration of water into the voids in the sub-base, without there being an opportunity for equally rapid escape by evaporation.

SUMMARY

The present invention finds particular utility in connection with the provision of pavement surfaces, that is hard, load-bearing surfaces made from paving elements such as slabs or blocks, or continuous material such as concrete or asphalt. However, the present invention is not limited to application solely in this field, and may find utility in connection with a wide range of forms of water run-off management, storage, and precipitation re-utilisation systems, particularly those suitable for use with rainwater, as well as systems for decontamination of run-off water and for the use of subterranean water for heat exchange purposes.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a water detention system characterised by comprising at least a sub-base of particulate material in a layer having a substantial number of voids, an overlying permeable layer of particulate material, and a composite membrane comprising a first, permeable layer, a second impermeable layer and spacer means between the first and second layer, the spacer means acting to maintain at least part of the first and second layers out of contact with one another and to allow the movement of liquid in the space between them, the composite membrane being so positioned that water collecting on its surface can infiltrate into the sub-base from the edges of the composite drainage membrane or through openings formed in the second layer.

When used as a separating layer over a sub-base of particulate material defining a plurality of voids, therefore, the composite membrane allows the infiltration of water passing through the permeable layer into the space between the two layers and then travelling laterally, towards the edges of the composite membrane, from which the water can escape into the sub-base.

The form of the composite membrane may vary depending on the particular exigencies of use. For example, in some circumstances it may be quite sufficient for the individual layers simply to be placed in juxtaposed relation one over the other loosely without a bonding between the layers. Because overlying layers will in practice be placed on top of the membrane, for example a laying course and a wearing course, there will be no effective lateral forces between the layers requiring them to be bonded together. For convenience in handling of the membrane, however, they may nevertheless be held together in fixed relation and in one embodiment the components of the membrane are held together by adhesive bonding. Alternatively, however, the component may be held together by fixing elements such as, for example, staples.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the spacer means comprise a mesh or grid, and in particular a plastics mesh has been found to be particularly appropriate. Of course, since lateral transport of the water between the two layers spaced by the mesh is required a mesh structure which formed closed cells would be of little value and it is preferred, therefore, that the mesh is formed in such a way as to provide communicating or open cell structure when the mesh is placed between the two layers. This may be achieved, for example, by using a mesh formed of overlapping or “woven” filaments.

Another way in which lateral transport of water may be achieved lies in the use of a plurality of discrete elements as the spacer means. Such discrete elements may be irregularly spaced over the surface of the membrane between the two layers or, in order to minimise on the material used, may be regularly spaced over this surface, it being appreciated that regular spacing allows wider separation of the spacer elements. Indeed, it will be appreciated that although the spacer elements hold the two layers out of contact with one another in the region of the elements themselves, it is possible for the two layers to touch between the regions contacted by the spacer elements. In this case the two layers may be secured together between the discrete elements and this, of course, would assist in maintaining the discrete elements in determined positions spaced over the area of the membrane.

Although discrete elements in the form of studs, pebbles, beads or other granular material may be used, these could alternatively be elongate, possibly even spanning the entire width of the membrane, formed as rods, bars or tubes.

It is also within the ambit of the present invention for the second, impermeable layer to be formed with surface formations acting themselves as the spacers. Thus local inspissation, corrugation or embossment of the second layer may serve to hold other regions thereof in the required spaced relation with respect to the permeable layer.

Permeability of the first layer may be achieved by forming this as a woven or non-woven textile material, in which case the fibres or filaments may be heat bonded to make a strong resistant material suitable for use as a geotextile.

The present invention also comprehends a water detention system comprising at least a sub-base of particulate material in a layer having a substantial number of voids, and an overlying composite membrane formed by laying down successive layers in a substantially unbonded juxtaposition, and so positioned that water collecting on the surface can infiltrate into the sub-base at least from the edge of the membrane or through openings formed therein. The intermediate layer in such a structure may be made of stones or crushed rock laid to a depth of between a few cm to several tens of cm.

In a structure suitable for water detention the sub-base may overly an impermeable or at least substantially impermeable underlying layer, and this layer may be a geological formation such as a sub-grade or may be an introduced at least substantially impermeable, underlying layer in the form of a membrane.

The underlying layer need not necessarily be planar, and, indeed, there are circumstances which will be described in more detail below in which irregular further cavities or sumps, or at least one cavity or sump, may be of particular value.

Above the composite membrane of the water detention system there may be a further particulate layer and this may be a laying course for a wearing layer which may comprise a plurality of paving elements and which, in a preferred embodiment, may be blocks or slabs having means defining openings between them when laid in juxtaposed relation.

Alternatively, the wearing layer may comprise a substantially continuous layer of permeable material such as asphalt, porous concrete or the like.

A water detention system formed in locations other than under urban pavements may also be formed, and in such a case the particulate material overlying the composite membrane may itself constitute a wearing layer (for example, gravel laid to a path or drive, or a larger standing area). It could also be entirely unrelated to any traffic or parking system, in which case the further layer may be overlain by soil and/or vegetation. This is of particular value where the water detention system is provided primarily for collection and storage of water for purposes other than simply management of the water run-off. It may be stored, for example, for further use in irrigation, as wash water or even for use in other agricultural environments, such as drinking water for animals.

Infiltration of water resulting from precipitation is achieved particularly effectively if the membrane is laid in strips over the sub-base, and such strips may be lain in such a way that adjacent strips are spaced from one another (in which case water infiltration is maximised) although adequate water infiltration may equally be achieved if the strips of the composite membrane are laid abutting one another or overlapping one another. The strips may be laid on a perfectly horizontal surface of the underlying sub-base, or this may be shaped, for example domed or inclined, to receive the composite membrane.

The present invention also extends to the provision of a pavement structure having an underlying water detention system as defined hereinabove and/or using a composite membrane as defined herein.

Further, the invention may also be considered to lie in a method of forming a water detention system which may comprise the steps of laying a sub-base of rigid insoluble hard particulate material of a defined size range over an at least substantially impermeable sub-grade or a preliminarily positioned at least substantially impermeable membrane and overlying the sub-base with a substantially unidirectionally porous layer able to allow water to infiltrate from above into the sub-base, but which is such as substantially to resist loss of water from the sub-base by evaporation. This method also comprises overlaying the substantially unidirectionally porous layer with a further layer of particulate material.

The method of the invention may further comprises the steps of compacting the material of the sub-base prior to application of the substantially unidirectionally porous layer.

If the substantially unidirectionally porous layer is a composite membrane comprising at least an impermeable layer, a permeable layer and spacer means holding the two layers apart over at least a part of their area, as described hereinabove, these may be applied one at a time to the sub-base to build up the at least substantially unidirectionally porous layer. Indeed, the spacer means may itself comprise a layer of stones or crushed rock.

Alternatively, the substantially unidirectionally porous layer may be a composite membrane as herein defined preliminarily formed before application to the sub-base.

The present invention may also comprehend a heat exchange structure comprising a substantially enclosed volume bounded by a lower water-impermeable stratum or layer and containing a sub-base of rigid substantially incompressible particulate material, overlain by an at least partly permeable membrane which allows water to enter the substantially enclosed volume but resists evaporative escape therefrom. This system also comprises one or more heat exchange pipes for directing a heat exchange fluid therethrough and located so as to pass through water trapped in the substantially enclosed volume.

The substantially enclosed volume may include a channel through which the or each heat exchange pipe passes, and such channel may be formed by the membrane defining a lower boundary of the enclosed volume. In order to ensure that thermal contact is made with the water even in the most adverse circumstances the channel may be formed as a sump in the bottom of the enclosed volume and the pipe or pipes pass through this sump.

The rigid substantially incompressible particulate material may be crushed rock.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a membrane formed as an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a mesh layer forming part of the membrane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through a water detention system formed as an embodiment of the present invention and incorporating a membrane of the general type illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an alternative membrane having tubes, rods or bars as spacers;

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of beads as spacers;

FIG. 6 illustrates one laying configuration for the membrane of FIG. 1 in a water detention system such as that of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a further alternative laying configuration;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a membrane formed as an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view through a water detention system formed as an embodiment of the present invention and incorporating a membrane of the general type illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of one laying configuration for the membrane of FIG. 1 in a water detention system such as that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the configuration of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an alternative configuration of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alternative laying configuration for the membrane of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view through a heat exchange structure formed as an embodiment of the present invention and incorporating a membrane of the general type illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, the membrane generally indicated 10 comprises a first layer 11 of non-woven geotextile fabric comprising a plurality of filaments bonded together and having the following properties.

Thermally -bonded non-woven geotextile meeting the following specifications:

Mechanical Properties
Wide Width Strip Tensile         EN ISO 10319
Mean peak strength               8.50 kN/m
Elongation at peak strength      28%
CBR Puncture Resistance          EN ISO 12236
Mean Peak Strength               1575 N
Trapezoidal Tear Resistance      ASTM D4533
Mean Peak Strength               325 N
Hydraulic Properties
Pore Size                        EN ISO 12956
Mean AOS O90                     0.145 mm
Water Flow                       EN ISO 11058
Mean Flow VIH50 10−3 m · s−1(1/m2s) 80
Water Breakthrough               BS 6906: Part 3
Mean Head                        50 mm
Air Permeability                 ISO 9237
Mean Flow                        2875 l/m2 · s
Typical Physical Properties
Mass EN 965                      130 g/m2
Roll width                       4.5 & 1.5 m
Roll length                      100 m
Colour                           Green

The composite membrane 10 also includes a flexible second layer 12 of impermeable plastics material (such as polyethylene or similar) and sandwiched between the first and second layers 11, 12 is a geogrid or mesh layer (such as high density polyethylene or similar) 13 spacing the two first-mentioned layers apart and providing a plurality of drainage passageways for water to travel parallel to the plane of the backing layer 12.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show two alternative forms of the geogrid 13. This layer is intended to hold the geotextile layer 11 spaced from the impermeable backing layer 12 and to provide drainage channels or passages for water to travel parallel to the plane of the layer 12. For this purpose the grid must provide spaces between itself and the layer 12 when placed in contact with it, and in the embodiment of FIG. 2a this is achieved by forming the grid 13 of a plurality of “wovenwarp” filaments 14 interlaced with a plurality of “weft” filaments 15. After weaving, the filaments 14, 15 are pressed together and heated to cause bonding in the overlap region such as that identified by the arrow 16 so that the geogrid is stable dimensionally. Passages for water flow are formed by the overlapping filaments as identified by the regions 17 identified in FIG. 2a.

A similar, but more economical geogrid is illustrated in FIG. 2b where the warp filaments 14′ are first laid in parallel rows and/or overlaid by the “weft” filaments 15′ which are thereafter pressed and heated to bond the grid together at the intersections 16′. The heating causes partial interpenetration of the material of the warp and weft filaments, but as will be appreciated along the length of either row of filaments there are wide spaces through which water can travel even when the grid is placed in contact with an impermeable surface.

FIG. 3 illustrates in cross section a typical water detention system formed utilising the membrane illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The water detention system illustrated in FIG. 3 underlies a hard paved surface 18 defined by a plurality of individual blocks 19 laid closely spaced with no grouting between them so that channels (not shown) in the sides of the blocks can allow rainwater falling on the surface 18 to pass through into an underlying layer 20 formed as a bedding course for the blocks 19 and composed of relatively small particulate material such as gravel in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm.

Beneath this is a sub-base 21 of crushed rock of angular form and a size range of about 163 mm to about 10 mm between which are a significant number of voids providing storage space for water infiltrating through the permeable wearing surface 18. Between the sub-base 21 and the laying course 20 is a composite membrane layer generally indicated 22. This may have the same structure as described in relation to FIG. 1 and, in this embodiment, the membrane 22 is laid in elongate strips 22a, 22b, 22c with spaces 23 between the edges of adjacent strips. Over the spaces 23 is laid a protective strip 24 of porous geotextile material, which may be the same material as that which constitutes the layer 11 of the membrane 10 of FIG. 1. A regulating layer 29 of smaller stones may be laid between the sub-base 21 and the composite membrane 22.

The edges of the installation are defined by a kerb 25 in suitable haunching 26, and escape of water is prevented by a strip 27 of impermeable material laid under the adjacent strip 22c of composite membrane and extending up the adjacent face of the kerb 25 between that and the layer of blocks 19. The edging strip 27 thus forms a vertical limb 27a and a horizontal limb 27b. An impermeable layer or membrane 28 defines the lower boundary of the sub-base 21, lying between this and the sub-grade 29. The membrane 28 likewise extends up the face of the kerb 25 adjacent the limb 27a of the edging strip 27 to define an enclosed space below the wearing surface constituted by the blocks 19.

A sump 30 is formed by a channel membrane 36 beneath the sub-base 21 and extending downwardly into the sub-grade 29. The sump 30 is filled with a granular material 32 which is smaller in size than the material of the sub-base 21.

At the bottom of the sump 30 are laid pipes 33 for a heat exchange system. As described herein the water detention system may be used for multiple purposes and not every feature of this embodiment would necessarily be employed in a practical installation. Where the water detention system is provided to act as a heat sink, for example, it is convenient to maintain a significant body of water within the region defined by the sub-base 21 and the sump 30 so that heat yielded from the pipes 30 (through which, in use, a heat exchange liquid or fluid flows from the appliance or installation generating or using the heat which is lost to or drawn from the surrounding water). A further description of such a heat exchange system is to be found in British Patent Application No 0418391.9.

Alternative forms of composite membrane are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the same reference numerals have been used as those in FIG. 1 to identify the same or corresponding component parts. Thus, the upper geotextile layer 11 is spaced in the embodiment of FIG. 4 from the lower impermeable plastics membrane 12 by a regular array of rods or bars 40 spaced from one another along the length of the strip of membrane 12. The bars 40 extend from side to side of the membrane and define elongate channels in the composite membrane encouraging water to flow in one of two opposite directions. The bars 40 may be secured to the membrane 12 by adhesive, friction welding or other technique, or, as shown in FIG. 4a, may be bonded in place by forming the membrane 12 around each rod 40 whilst in a mobile state so that, upon curing or hardening, the membrane 12 itself retains the rod 40 in position.

In FIG. 5 the geotextile 11 is spaced from the membrane 12 by an irregular set of beads 41 spaced over the surface of the membrane 12 and either secured in place by adhesive or located by a direct connection of the geotextile 11 to the membrane 12 by way of fixing elements such as staples 42 over a defined region to form, in effect, pockets between which the beads 41 are trapped.

FIG. 6 shows a laying pattern for the composite membrane in a water detention system similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3. Again, the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or corresponding components. Here, the composite membrane 22 is again laid in strips 22a, 22b, 22c, but in this case they are laid overlapping one another over a regulating layer 29 and under a bedding course 20 overlain by blocks 19 which allow infiltration of water. This laying configuration still allows water to permeate through the permeable membrane 22 since water flowing onto, for example, the strip 22a can exit from each of the two opposite edges 22a′ and 22a″, and in this latter case the water flows onto the adjacent layer 22b from which it can escape through the edge 22b′. Water collecting in the sub-base layer 21, however, has an effectively continuous impermeable membrane above it, and evaporation of the water contained in the sub-base 21 even when high temperatures exist above the wearing layer 18 is strongly resisted.

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative laying configuration in which, however, the regulating layer 29 is formed into a cambered or domed configuration matching the dimensions of the strips 22a, 22b, 22c so that the infiltration of water through the membrane 22 into the sub-base 21 is encouraged by gravity. This laying configuration has the disadvantage, however, that the cambered regulating layer 29 must be formed with a shape which is reasonably accurate so as to receive the individual strips 22 of the composite membrane.

Turning now to FIG. 8, there is shown an assembled structure forming a composite membrane, generally indicated 10 for use in a water detention system of the type described above. The membrane comprises a first layer 11 of non-woven geotextile fabric composed of a plurality of filaments bounded together to form a porous web having properties as set out in relation to the web described with reference to FIG. 1.

The composite membrane 10 also includes a flexible second layer 12 of impermeable plastics material (such as polyethylene or similar), and sandwiched between the first and second layers 11, 12 is a layer 13a of crushed rock or stone spacing the two first-mentioned layers apart and providing a plurality of drainage passageways for water to travel parallel to the plane of the backing layer 12. This layer of stone may have a thickness of about 75 mm and have been graded to include particles predominantly of a size 20 mm to 5 mm.

The composite membrane 10 may act as an evaporation control membrane as will be explained in more detail herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates in cross section a typical water detention system formed utilising the membrane illustrated in FIG. 8. The water detention system underlies a hard paved surface 18 defined by a plurality of individual blocks 19 laid closely spaced with no grouting between them so that channels (not shown) in the sides of the blocks can allow rainwater falling on the surface 18 to pass through into an underlying layer 20 formed as a bedding course for the blocks 19 and composed of relatively small size particulate material such as gravel in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, more particularly 6 mm.

Beneath this is a sub-base 21 of crushed rock or stone of angular form and graded to have a size range of about 63 mm to about 10 mm between which are a significant number of voids providing storage space for water infiltrating through the permeable wearing surface 18. Between the sub-base 21 and the laying course 20 is a composite membrane layer generally indicated 22. This may have the same structure as described in relation to FIG. 8.

In this embodiment, between the sub-base layer 21 and the underside of the composite membrane 22, a thin blinding layer of regulating stone 29 is provided having a size range of about 20 mm to about 5 mm and having a thickness of about 50 mm. This layer 29 helps to protect the second layer 12 of the composite membrane 22 from puncture by the larger and more angular rocks and stones of the sub-base layer 21.

Further, the embodiment of FIG. 9 has a stabilisation layer 50 shown. This may be a geotextile or a geo-grid such as manufactured by Tensar™. The purpose of this layer is to help stabilise the sub-base 21 and prevent it from being reduced in thickness, which in turn would reduce the volume of water which could be stored within it, due to traffic or natural weathering.

At the base of the structure of FIG. 9 a substantially impermeable layer 28 is shown. This layer 28 may be a man-made impermeable layer such as sheets of substantially continuous plastics, a naturally occurring sub-grade such as a competent rock formation, or an imported naturally occurring material such as clay. This element 28 is not a pre-requisite but does enhance water retention.

FIG. 10 illustrates how the second layer 12 of the composite membrane 22 may be formed of overlapping separate sheets 12a. The sheets are overlapped along an edge 12b and tapes 12c are adhered to the two adjacent sheets 12a at the overlap 12b to produce a larger continuous sheet. Holes 12d may then be punched through the sheets 12a in either a regular pattern as shown in FIG. 4 or an irregular pattern (not shown).

FIG. 11 shows this regular pattern in plan view together with the taped section 12c and the overlap 12b.

FIG. 12 shows alternative openings within the second layer 12. Rather than holes 12d slices, slashes or cuts 12e are made within the second layer 12.

FIG. 13 illustrates another alternative to the holes 12d of FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the second layer 12 is made up of adjacent sheets 12a which are spaced apart with a gap 12f left therebetween. These gaps 12f act as the openings to allow water to flow through into the sub-base but to minimise evaporation from the sub-base by minimising the area of sub-base which is not covered by an impermeable layer.

In FIG. 14 the water detention system of FIG. 9 is adapted to become a heat exchange structure. This is achieved by having a sump 30 formed within the base of the system. The sump is lined with an impermeable layer 36 which could be an extension of the membrane 28. At the bottom of the sump 30 are laid pipes 33 for a heat exchange system. Within the sump 30 a granular material 32 is placed which is smaller in size than the material of the sub-base 21 to protect the pipes from damage due to sharp edges and corners.

The impermeable layer 28 is also shown to continue up one side of the sub-base 21, composite membrane 22, bedding layer 20 and pavement 18. If necessary this layer can be continued around all sides of the structure so as to make it waterproof and to retain as much water within it as possible. Water could then be regulated to flow out of the structure by means of a valve (not shown) placed through the impermeable layer 28 at a selected point.

As described herein the water detention system may be used for multiple purposes and not every feature of this embodiment would necessarily be employed in a practical installation. Where the water detention system is provided to act as a heat sink, for example, it is convenient to maintain a significant body of water within the region defined by the sub-base 21 and the sump 30 so that heat yielded from the pipes 30 (through which, in use, a heat exchange liquid or fluid flows from the appliance or installation generating or using the heat) is lost to the surrounding water. A further description of such a heat exchange system is to be found in British Patent Application No 0418391.9.

Claims

1. A water detention system characterised by comprising at least a sub-base of particulate material in a layer having a substantial number of voids, an overlying permeable layer of particulate material, and a composite membrane comprising a first, permeable layer, a second impermeable layer and spacer means between the said first and second layer, the said spacer means acting to maintain at least part of the said first and second layers out of contact with one another and to allow the movement of liquid in the space between them, composite membrane being so positioned that water collecting on its surface can infiltrate into the sub-base from the edges of the composite drainage membrane or through openings formed in the second layer.

2. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-base overlies an impermeable or at least substantially impermeable underlying layer.

3. A water detention system according to claim 2 wherein said impermeable or at least substantially impermeable underlying layer is a sub-grade.

4. A water detention system according to claim 2, wherein said impermeable or at least substantially impermeable underlaying layer is a membrane.

5. A water detention system according to any of claims 1 wherein said underlying layer further comprises a cavity forming a sump.

6. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein the spacer means comprise a plurality of discrete elements in the form of stones or crushed rock in a given size range.

7. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein said second layer comprises a plurality of plastics membranes.

8. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein said membrane has a plurality of openings with a cross-sectional area of less than 7 mm2

9. A water detention system according to claim 8, wherein said overlying layer is a laying course for a wear layer.

10. A water detention system according to claim 9, wherein said wear layer comprises a plurality of paving elements.

11. A water detention system according to claim 10, wherein said paving elements are blocks or slabs having means defining openings between them when laid in juxtaposed relation.

12. A water detention system according to claim 9, wherein wear layer comprises a substantially continuous layer of permeable material (such as asphalt, permeable on porous concrete, or the like).

13. A water detention system according to claim 1 wherein said overlying layer of particular material itself constitutes a wear layer.

14. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein said overlying layer is itself overlain by soil and/or vegetation.

15. A water detention system according to claim 1 wherein said membrane is laid in spaced strips over the said sub-base.

16. A water detention system as claimed in claim 15, in which adjacent strips are spaced from one another.

17. A water detention system as claimed in claim 16, in which further strips of permeable geotextile material overlie the spaces between adjacent said spaced strips.

18. A water detention system as claimed in claim 15, in which adjacent said strips overlap one another.

19. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein the components of the said composite membrane, comprising the said first and second layers and the said spacer means, are located in unbonded juxtaposition.

20. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein the components of the said composite membrane are held together in fixed relation.

21. A water detention system according to claim 19, wherein the components of the said composite membrane are held together by adhesive bonding.

22. A water detention system according to claim 19, wherein the components of the said composite membrane are held together by fixing elements.

23. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein said spacer means comprises a mesh or grid having grid elements so formed as to define lateral transfer passages in the composite membrane.

24. A water detention system according to claim 20, wherein said grid elements are elongate rods, bars or tubes.

25. A water detention system according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a woven or non-woven textile material the fibres or filaments of which are heat bonded.

26. A method of forming a water detention system characterised by comprising the steps of: laying a sub-base of rigid insoluble hard particulars material of a defined size range over an at least substantially impermeable sub-grade or a preliminary positioned at least substantially impermeable membrane;

overlaying the sub-base with a substantially unidirectionally porous layer able to allow water to infiltrate from above into the sub-base but which is such as substantially to resist loss of water from the sub-base by evaporation; and overlaying the said substantially unidirectionally porous layer with a further layer of particulate material.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of compacting the material of the sub-base prior to application of the said substantially unidirectionally porous layer.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein said substantially unidirectionally porous layer is a composite membrane comprising at least an impermeable layer, a permeable layer and spacer means holding the said two layers apart over at least a part of their area, which are applied one at a time to the sub-base to build up the said at least substantially unidirectionally porous layer.

29. A heat exchange structure comprising:

a substantially enclosed volume bounded by a lower water-impermeable stratum or layer and containing a sub-base of rigid substantially incompressible particulate material, overlain by an at least partly semi-permeable membrane which allows water to enter the said substantially enclosed volume but resists evaporative escape therefrom, and

one or more heat exchange pipes for directing a heat exchange fluid therethrough and located so as to pass through water trapped in the said substantially enclosed volume.

30. A heat exchange structure according to claim 29, wherein the substantially enclosed volume includes a channel through which the or each heat exchange pipe passes.

31. A heat exchange structure according to claim 29, wherein the channel is formed by the membrane defining the lower boundary of the said enclosed volume.

32. A heat exchange structure according to claim 31, wherein the channel is formed as a sump in the bottom of the said enclosed volume.

33. A heat exchange structure according to claim 29, wherein said rigid substantially incompressible particulate material comprises crushed rock.

34. A pavement structure and water detection system comprising:

a pavement structure;

a water detention system underlying the pavement structure, the water detection system comprising at least a sub-base of particulate material in a layer having a substantial number of voids, an overlying permeable layer of particulate material, and a composite membrane comprising a first, permeable layer, a second impermeable layer and spacer means between the said first and second layer, the said spacer means acting to maintain at least part of the said first and second layers out of contact with one another and to allow the movement of liquid in the space between them, composite membrane being so positioned that water collecting on its surface can infiltrate into the sub-base from the edges of the composite drainage membrane or through openings formed in the second layer.