US EUROPE AFRICA ASIA 中文
    China / Society

    Sponge-like cities turn stormwater from blight to boon

    (Xinhua) Updated: 2015-10-14 15:47

    BEIJING - During rainy seasons in the past, Binhu Square in Nanning would become drenched in water, flooding and blocking off a major section in the center of the southern Chinese city.

    But a recent project has reversed the city's fortunes, turning the once-burdensome floodwater into a boon for the surrounding community.

    Replacing the square's granite surface with a permeable, sandy material, the square now absorbs, purifies and collects water which can then be used to help irrigate local vegetation, Gan Linyi, staff of the management department of the square, said.

    The project, completed earlier this year, is part of the city's effort to transform itself into a sponge, capable of soaking up rainwater and retaining it for future use by upgrading sewer system, developing ponds, filtration pools, wetlands, as well as permeable public spaces.

    Nanning is not alone in its "sponge city" campaign. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said last week around 130 Chinese cities have mapped plans to transform themselves in this manner.

    By 2020, 20 percent of China's cities should have modern sewer systems and infrastructure that allows for efficient absorption of rain water, with the number rising to 80 percent by 2030, according to a timetable released by the ministry.

    The program is in response to the growing need of upgraded water management infrastructure in China, a country wrestling with the twin problems of urban flooding and water scarcity.

    Statistics from the Beijing-based Tsinghua Holdings Human Settlements Environment Institute show about 400 out of more than 600 Chinese cities are short of water, with a total shortage of about 7 billion cubic meters annually .

    According to an investigation on 351 cities conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, 62 percent of the cities witnessed urban flooding from 2008 to 2010.

    Li Chuanming, official with the drainage department of Hefei city in Anhui province, said in an ideal situation, 80 percent of rainwater should be absorbed into the ground with the other 20 percent being drained through sewers.

    The ratio is the reverse in most Chinese cities, with much of the surface covered in nonpermeable concrete and asphalt as a result of rapid urbanization, he said.

    A fatal rainstorm killed more than 70 people in Beijing on July 21, 2012, exposing the flawed drainage system of the capital, which is also plagued by a severe water shortage.

    Over the past two years, Beijing has been renovating streets with permeable materials, constructing storage ponds, filtration pools and "bioswale" -- a gully filled with drought-resistant plants, throughout parks and communities. city authorities said a total of 27.81 million cubic meters of rainwater was collected and recycled last year.

    Local media reports showed that 11 parks in Beijing have been utilizing new water infrastructure to soak up rain during this year's rainy season. Park staff use the stormwater to fill artificial lakes, flush toilets or irrigate lawns.

    Lin Binzhang, expert with Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, said among the 200 big and middle-sized Chinese cities, about two-thirds are facing both waterlogging and water scarcity.

    He suggested each city take a different approach to the sponge concept, basing their efforts on each cities' unique climatic, geographic and demographic conditions.

    Experts also noted that the project would be expensive and difficult.

    An engineer surnamed Wang, who works with the water conservation bureau of Anqing city in Anhui province, said since the lay-out and structure of cities are already formed, improving the sewer systems, increasing green areas and creating permeable road surfaces would come at a huge cost.

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development estimated that the project would cost about 160 to 180 million yuan ($25 to 28 million) for every one square kilometer.

    "It is important for governments to find effective ways to attract private capital to the project," Wang said.

    Cities should integrate the sponge city program into urban planning and make sure that the new development projects are not in the way of the construction of sponge facilities, he added.

    Highlights
    Hot Topics
    ...
    亚洲AV无码成人精品区天堂| 中文字幕欧美在线| 天堂√在线中文资源网| 精品无码人妻一区二区三区品| 久久精品中文字幕久久| 日韩乱码人妻无码中文字幕视频| 中文字幕精品一区| 亚洲中文字幕无码一去台湾 | 91久久精品无码一区二区毛片| 少妇中文无码高清| 中文字幕无码免费久久| 国产网红无码精品视频| 亚洲国产精品成人精品无码区| 中文字幕51日韩视频| 天堂资源8中文最新版| 无码人妻少妇久久中文字幕| 乱色精品无码一区二区国产盗| 中文字幕丰满乱子伦无码专区| 中文字幕无码精品三级在线电影 | 中文字幕无码第1页| 亚洲中文字幕不卡无码| 蜜臀精品无码AV在线播放| 无码国产精品一区二区免费式芒果| 中文字幕在线无码一区二区三区| 三级理论中文字幕在线播放| 亚洲AV无码成人精品区狼人影院| 久久久久无码精品国产不卡| 亚洲av无码片vr一区二区三区| 精品无码成人片一区二区98| 亚洲JIZZJIZZ中国少妇中文| 7国产欧美日韩综合天堂中文久久久久| 中文字幕人妻中文AV不卡专区| 亚洲Av无码乱码在线观看性色| 久久伊人中文无码| 免费无码又爽又黄又刺激网站| 无码av免费一区二区三区试看| 国产精品无码无需播放器| 人妻无码视频一区二区三区 | 中文有无人妻vs无码人妻激烈| 最近的中文字幕大全免费8| 中文字幕在线一区二区在线|