Urban flood mitigation through sponge city concept

Abstract

The capacity of subsurface drainage systems in many cities around the world is severely inadequate and does not keep up with the rapid expansion of aboveground public structures and infrastructure. Due to the high vels of imperviousness, the urban water cycle and ecosystems have undergone significant change, which has sulted in frequent flooding, water pollution, ecosystem degradation, water scarcity, and other issues. To address these issues and enhance integrated urban water management considering urbanisation and climate change, developed nations are attempting to implement green and sustainable solutions, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), Nature Based Solutions (NBS), Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM), Low Impact Development (LID), Best Management Practise, and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). To develop a new path, China launched a national "Sponge City Development" programme in 2013 as an innovative approach to manage urban stormwater and a new paradigm for urban evelopment. China's Sponge City (SPC) builds on the successful stormwater management practices of developed nations, but it also incorporates traditional Chinese knowledge of water management. For the next stage of high-quality SPC development in the Indian context, improving the law, technological standardisation, and supporting theoretical and basic research, professional training, and new products, the review and appraisal of the pilot's effects and experience are crucial. Therefore, there is a need to investigate relevant variables or factors while connecting them to case studies. This will help to evaluate the sponge city concept's influence or effect in the context of urban floods mitigation and storm water management models. Currently, urban settlements in Delhi consist of an impermeable system in general. Wastewater treatment services can handle some of the water, especially during the monsoon period. After that, extra water is directed into sewage seeps, which frequently direct untreated water directly into surrounding streams or local rivers. The sponge city concept promotes storm water seepage by repairing and enhancing its own unique freshwater eco frameworks, such as streams, lakes, urban wetlands, gardens, and stops. It includes five objectives that are Water v Security, water resources, water ecology, water environment and water culture. The study would be conducted through two objectives of the sponge city concept which are water security and water resources since the study area is prone to urban flooding and water scarcity, but it will ultimately offer answers to the problem. Also, one model would be presented by the study to fit all the nation's regions with similar characteristics. "Sponge City" depicts a city that is dedicated to transforming its existing infrastructure into green infrastructure so that it may store, manage, and reuse excess rainwater in an environmentally responsible manner. The Sponge City is designed to essentially operate like a sponge, allowing surfaces everywhere around the city to retain and absorb as much water as is reasonably anticipated during rainstorms. Keywords – Sponge City Concept, Urban Flooding, Storm Water Management, Water Security, Water Resources, Water Environment, Water Ecology