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Watch: This 'thirsty' concrete that absorbs 4,000 litres of water a minute can help save lives

Sahil Bhalla | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 5:04 IST

This may sound impossible and may sound like a magic trick even. But Tarmac has come up a new product that will change how people live across the world. Imagine this: It's raining cats and dogs and you are late for a dinner engagement. You confront traffic on the road. So you decide to ditch the cab and run. You'd be battling knee high water wouldn't you? Well, with Topmix Permeable, this situation could turn out differently.

In this video, a truck dumps gallons upon gallons of water onto a pavement. When it hits the ground, it all disappears miraculously! Topmix Permeable, an absorbent concrete made by Tarmac, is able to filter 4,000 litres per minute through its penetrable top layer. Next, the water goes to a drainage system where it re-enters the groundwater system.

This innovative system could help prevent flash floods. It essentially serves as a reservoir during heavy rains. During driving, cycling, walking, it could help improve safety conditions by just reducing the number of puddles and overflow. Especially in a place like India where the drainage system is horrible.

There is one downside though. When the water freezes, the system would be destroyed. It's unrealiable during colder months. This is due to the fact that in winter, frozen water would expand and wreck the surface. But Topmix would work well in places like Mumbai, which experience severe monsoons but have a humid climate throughout the year.

The video has crossed 45 million views on Facebook.

First published: 28 September 2015, 3:26 IST
 
Sahil Bhalla @IMSahilBhalla

Sahil is a sports and tech correspondent on the speed news desk at Catch. A gadget freak, he loves offering free tech support to family and friends. He studied at Sarah Lawrence College, New York and worked previously for Scroll. He selectively boycotts fast food chains, worries about Arsenal, and travels whenever and wherever he can. Sahil is an unapologetic foodie and a film aficionado.