{"id":20022981,"date":"2017-09-22T12:37:57","date_gmt":"2017-09-22T07:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=22981"},"modified":"2020-12-21T16:48:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T11:18:14","slug":"chinas-sponge-cities-aim-to-re-use-70-of-rainwater-heres-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/chinas-sponge-cities-aim-to-re-use-70-of-rainwater-heres-how\/","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s \u2018sponge cities\u2019 aim to re-use 70% of rainwater \u2013 here\u2019s how"},"content":{"rendered":"

Asian cities are struggling to accommodate rapid urban migration and development is encroaching on flood-prone areas. Recent flooding in Mumbai was blamed, in part, on\u00a0unregulated development\u00a0of wetlands, while\u00a0hastily built\u00a0urban areas are being affected\u00a0by flooding\u00a0across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

This is not only a trend in developing countries;\u00a0floods\u00a0in Houston in the US highlighted the risks of development in environmentally sensitive and low-lying areas.\u00a0In 2012, a severe flood\u00a0in Beijing<\/a> wreaked havoc on the city\u2019s transportation systems, and in 2016 floods\u00a0overwhelmed drainage systems<\/a>\u00a0in Wuhan, Nanjing and Tianjin. The challenges are clear.<\/p>\n

Groundwater over-extraction, waterway degradation and urban flooding are forcing China\u2019s cities to address a vicious cycle. Sprawling urban development and the use of impervious materials prevent soil from absorbing rainwater, prompting further investment in infrastructures that typically impede natural processes and worsen the\u00a0impacts of floods.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s \u201csponge city initiative\u201d aims to arrest this cycle through the use of permeable surfaces and green infrastructure. However, the initiative faces two challenges: the lack of local government expertise to coordinate and integrate such a complex set of activities effectively, and financial constraints.<\/p>\n

The concept<\/h3>\n

Engineering solutions are popular interventions but cities cannot simply pipe away flood risks. To address this issue, China\u2019s sponge city initiative has\u00a0an ambitious\u00a0goal: by 2020, 80% of urban areas should absorb and re-use at least 70% of rainwater.<\/p>\n

Launched in 2015\u00a0in 16 cities, the initiative seeks to reduce the intensity of rainwater runoff by enhancing and distributing absorption capacities more evenly across targeted areas. The resulting groundwater replenishment increases the availability of water for various uses. This approach not only reduces flooding but also enhances water supply security.<\/p>\n

The initiative is similar to the North American concept of low-impact development\u00a0which, according\u00a0to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mimics natural processes<\/a> in order to protect water quality.<\/p>\n

The case of Lingang \u2013 a planned city in Shanghai\u2019s Pudong district \u2013 illustrates typical sponge city measures. These include rooftops covered by plants, scenic wetlands for rainwater storage, and permeable pavements that store excess runoff water and allow evaporation for temperature moderation.<\/p>\n

With ambitions to be China\u2019s largest sponge city project,\u00a0the Lingang city government has invested USD 119 million<\/a>\u00a0in retrofits and innovations that could be a model for the majority of Chinese cities lacking modern water infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Chinese cities are making noteworthy efforts. In a pledge to expand coverage of urban greenery, Shanghai announced the construction of 400,000 square metres of\u00a0rooftop gardens<\/a>\u00a0in early 2016. The project is a collaborative effort between\u00a0city regulators, property owners, and engineers. Sponge city projects in Xiamen and Wuhan have performed effectively<\/a> during\u00a0heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Grassy rooftops in Shanghai.\u00a0[image: kafka4prez\/Flickr]<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

Improved policies and budgets<\/h3>\n

The sponge city initiative requires a holistic and sustained effort, including effective environmental governance. But there are still concerns<\/a> about weak regulations and\u00a0selective enforcement. The unsung tedium of tightening controls is less exciting than bold innovations, but it is equally crucial for managing water. Local officials cannot simply turn the other way when violations are discovered and gains from sponge city programmes should not be offset by poor environmental governance.<\/p>\n

Funding is also a persistent constraint. To date, more\u00a0than USD 12 billion\u00a0has been spent<\/a> on all sponge city projects. The central government\u00a0funds roughly 15-20%<\/a>\u00a0of the costs, with the remainder split between local governments and the private sector. Unfortunately, the initiative coincides with a burgeoning municipal debt crisis spurred, in part, by restrictive\u00a0financial reforms<\/a>, bond ratings\u00a0cuts<\/a>, and\u00a0nervous<\/a>\u00a0bond markets. China\u2019s cities may soon find borrowing costs even higher and avenues for reducing debts narrower.<\/p>\n

Investment in sponge city initiatives is also proving to be an increasingly difficult sell, with\u00a0only tepid interest<\/a>\u00a0from domestic private investors. The government should improve conditions that encourage investment, including tax incentives, better project transparency and looser credit markets.<\/p>\n

Until this happens, sponge city initiatives will have to compete against visible and familiar infrastructure such as roads, transit and utilities. They will also have to be attractive in a market with numerous other investment options.<\/p>\n

Innovative water initiatives have been adopted worldwide: wetland restoration<\/a>\u00a0in the American Midwest, flushing systems using\u00a0collected rooftop<\/a>\u00a0water in Oregon,\u00a0bioswales<\/a>\u00a0in Singapore, and public spaces as\u00a0flexible water retention<\/a>\u00a0facilities in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

China has an opportunity to strengthen its emerging global leadership role in urban sustainability. However, it must first implement an effective vision for how sponge city initiatives complement broader environmental governance efforts. Improving regulatory enforcement and reviving interest in related private investment opportunities are two steps it can take.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on The Conversation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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