{
  "id": 15122354,
  "title": "Europe’s sponge cities are turning rain from waste into a valuable resource",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/europes-sponge-cities-are-turning-rain-from-waste-into-a-valuable",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T05:01:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/17/europes-sponge-cities-are-turning-rain-from-waste-into-a-valuable-resource"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Europe's cities are facing a dual threat from unpredictable weather, with heavy rainfalls causing flooding while droughts leave them with scarce water resources. As a potential solution, some experts are turning to the \"sponge city\" model, a nature-based approach to urban planning that originated in China two decades ago. The model involves transforming urban areas with green spaces, permeable surfaces, and water storage systems, allowing rain to be absorbed, retained, and reused instead of draining away. This approach not only reduces the burden on drainage systems but also conserves water for use during dry periods.\n\nJustin Abbott, a fellow and Europe water leader at engineering consultancy Arup, emphasizes the importance of reversing a century-long urban design paradigm that treats rainfall as waste rather than a valuable resource. According to Abbott, the key lies in \"saving for a rainy day\" and rethinking the way cities handle water. The sponge city model, developed by Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu in the early 2000s, involves features such as ponds, wetlands, and planted drainage channels to capture rainfall before it enters sewers and rivers. This helps reduce flood risk during storms and allows rainwater to replenish groundwater supplies or irrigate parks during dry spells. Greenery also aids in cooling city streets during heatwaves, and healthy soil and wetlands can protect against wildfires.\n\nChina implemented national guidelines for sponge city development in 2014 and launched a pilot program in 2015, aiming to have 80% of its built-up urban areas function as sponge cities by 2030. Europe has been experimenting with similar water management projects, with the southern Swedish city of Malmö retrofitting its flood-prone Augustenborg neighborhood with green roofs, wetlands, retention ponds, and water channels. Rotterdam's Benthemplein water square, opened in 2013, serves as a recreational space during good weather and temporarily holds 1.7 million liters of water during heavy rains. Copenhagen's Tåsinge Plads, opened in 2014, collects water from rooftops using underground storage and rain gardens, allowing rain to soak into the soil.\n\nWhile the sponge city model holds great promise, it is not a complete solution. During extreme storms, soil can become saturated, and storage systems can fill up, leaving excess water with nowhere to go. The 2024 floods in Valencia highlight the need for cities to also establish conventional drainage systems, larger reservoirs, and designated routes for carrying floodwater away when rain gardens and wetlands reach capacity. Moreover, city authorities, water utilities, developers, and landowners must all work together to manage rainfall effectively. By putting water first and \"designing with water,\" cities can better prepare for the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns.",
  "summary": "The EU is creating a ‘Sponge Facility’ to help implement nature-based projects that aim to make cities less prone to droughts and floods.",
  "key_points": [
    "Europe's cities face dual threats from unpredictable weather and flooding/droughts.",
    "Sponge city model absorbs, retains, and reuses rainwater instead of draining it away.",
    "China implemented sponge city guidelines in 2014, aiming for 80% urban coverage by 2030."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Adopting nature-based sponge city models shifts urban design from managing rainfall as a waste product to treating it as a critical resource for mitigating both floods and droughts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}