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Urban flooding pushes 鈥榮ponge city鈥 construction
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China wrestles with the dual challenges of water scarcity and urban flooding 鈥 problems that have been magnified by this summer鈥檚 heavy rainfall.
To address the flooding, the country is building 鈥渟ponge cities鈥 to absorb excess water through upgraded sewer systems, filtration pools, wetlands, and permeable public spaces.
Pingxiang City in east China鈥檚 Jiangxi Province was chosen by the central government as one of 16 pilot cities for the 鈥渟ponge city鈥 project in April 2015.
On June 14, the city experienced one of its heaviest rainfall of this year, putting its new 鈥渟ponge鈥 facilities to the test.
The city鈥檚 Jinluofeng Park was once among the spots more vulnerable to flooding. After the recent rain, however, the park was free from waterlogging thanks to water-permeable bricks installed in the ground.
A local resident surnamed Li lives nearby and visits the park on a daily basis for exercise. 鈥淭he park would be covered in ankle-deep water whenever there was a big rain,鈥 he said. 鈥淣ow I can come here to exercise as long as the rain has stopped.鈥
Lai Qing, deputy director of the city鈥檚 sponge city construction office, said the city has invested about 2.19 billion yuan (US$327.7 million) in 24 pilot programs over the past year.
The city also plans to connect its natural filtration facilities, such as creeks, pools and lakes, to build a sponge system to manage and purify rainwater, he said.
Another of the pilot cities, Nanning in south China鈥檚 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is already seeing benefits from the project.
During past rainy seasons, the city鈥檚 Binhu Square was drenched in water, and the flooding blocked off a major section of the city center.
A project completed last year replaced the square鈥檚 granite surfaces with a permeable, sandy material, and the square now absorbs, purifies and collects water, which can be used to irrigate local vegetation, said Gan Linyi, an employee with the square鈥檚 management department.
According to a timetable released by the Chinese government in October 2015, 20 percent of China鈥檚 cities should have modern sewer systems and infrastructure allowing efficient rainwater absorption by 2020, with the number rising to 80 percent by 2030.
Experts said rapid urbanization has led to obstacles.
Li Chuanming, an official with the drainage department of Hefei City in Anhui Province, said that, ideally, 80 percent of rainwater would be absorbed by the ground, with the other 20 percent drained through the sewers.
In reality, the ratio in most Chinese cities is reversed, as much of the surface is covered in nonpermeable concrete and asphalt, he said.
An engineer surnamed Wang with the water conservation bureau of Anqing City, Anhui Province, said since cities are already designed and built, improving sewer systems, increasing green space and creating permeable road surfaces would come at a huge cost.
鈥淚t is important for governments to attract private capital for the project,鈥 he said, adding that cities should integrate the program with urban planning and make sure new development does not stand in the way of building sponge facilities.
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