Can cities be resilient? Let them “breathe” like a sponge!

The so-called sponge city refers to an urban development mode that achieves natural accumulation, natural infiltration and natural purification by strengthening urban planning and construction management, giving full play to the absorption, storage and slow release of rainwater by buildings, roads, green spaces, water systems and other ecosystems, effectively controlling rainwater runoff, and making the city "breathe" like a sponge. Sponge cities have good "elasticity" and "resilience" in adapting to climate change and resisting rainstorm disasters, and are also called "water-elastic cities."

In terms of connotation and characteristics, the construction of sponge cities focuses on rainwater issues, including urban waterlogging, water resource utilization, rainwater runoff pollution, combined sewer overflow pollution, etc.; secondly, source reduction is prioritized, and rainwater runoff is controlled from the source to achieve a reduction in the total amount of rainwater runoff and a reduction in peak flow, minimizing the impact of urban development and construction on hydrological processes; thirdly, green facilities are prioritized, and natural, restored and artificially constructed green infrastructure should be utilized to achieve natural accumulation, natural infiltration and natural purification of rainwater.

In recent years, many places across the country have actively promoted the construction of sponge cities and achieved certain results. In Pingxiang, Jiangxi, more than 80% of the built-up areas have reached the sponge city standards, gradually achieving the overall goal of "no water accumulation in light rain, no waterlogging in heavy rain, no black and smelly water bodies, and reduced heat islands"; in Baicheng, Jilin, through the construction of sponge cities, the water shortage problem that plagued urban development has been solved, and the former "sand city" is developing into a "water town" in the northeast.

Data picture: A permeable brick used in the sponge city transformation process in Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province

In the long run, sponge cities can not only treat pollution and store water, but also build a benign ecological operation system to integrate the city into nature. Rainwater gardens, sunken green spaces and other facilities can store and purify rainwater, creating an ecological landscape compatible with nature; urban parks, tree-lined green belts and other places have created a better quality and livable environment.

With the promotion and popularization of sponge cities, more and more places have adapted to local conditions, integrated the concept of ecological priority and green development into the entire process of urban construction, focused on the expectations of citizens, and empowered urban development with ecology. The city has become greener, the sky has become bluer, and the water has become clearer. Many visible changes have taken place at home, and more and more people have enjoyed the environmental changes brought about by the construction of sponge cities.

Data picture: A newly renovated residential square with permeable ground surface photographed in Haigang District, Qinhuangdao City

"Sponge City" is an organic combination of modern green new technologies and social, environmental, humanistic and other factors. It is an innovative expression of promoting green building construction, low-carbon urban development and smart city formation. Only by letting the city "breathe" like a sponge, creating a beautiful ecological environment, and building a high-quality modern city, can we make a good ecological environment a growth point for people's quality of life and a starting point for showing a beautiful image, and realize beautiful and livable and happy living.

Audit expert: Zheng Chaochao, Senior Engineer, China Electronics Engineering Design Institute

China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

Xinhuanet

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