If you've ever lived through a serious waterlogging problem, you would know how challenging it can be to try to recover after major flooding disasters.
Unfortunate consequences of urbanization are also the increased likelihood of waterlogging as polluted open water. In cities full of concrete structures, rainwater cannot seep into the ground like it would in a natural setting. And if adequate drainage is not available, waterlogging occurs. When cities are developing rapidly and urban water management is not made a priority, it can greatly impact a community’s quality of life.
Found at the intersection of the Yangtze and Han rivers, with 14 million citizens, Wuhan is one of the first 16 pilot cities selected by the Central Government for the National Sponge City program. Wuhan has made a great effort to promote urban resiliency.
As advisor to Wuhan Water Authority in their three-year Sponge City Program, Arcadis has formed a worldwide expert team with decades of experience on Sustainable Drainage System and Low Impact Development.
Our experts worked to incorporate many local institutes involved in this enormous program to address the challenges of urban water issues. Our plan envisions the creation of integrated systems of comprehensive management structures, green infrastructure, an upgraded urban drainage system, water storage, and purification facilities throughout the city. Many of these solutions are small-scale but replicated across the city to create a much larger cumulative effect.
These solutions not only alleviate waterlogging effects but also provide actual benefits to Wuhan and its citizens. Permeable pavements and small water storage facilities will enable water reuse and decrease vulnerability to drought. New public green spaces will absorb stormwater, while also contributing to a more attractive and livable city.
Overall, the Sponge City program will reduce economic and environmental damage caused by waterlogging and open water quality and increase safety as well as living quality for citizens in Wuhan. The project will also serve as an example for other Chinese cities, so that these innovative, urban resiliency-enhancing techniques can be replicated across the country.
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