A new report from Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management calls for the government to implement rules to create ‘sponge cities’ with multiple areas of greenery, trees, ponds, soakaways, pocket parks and permeable paving to deter flooding by letting water drain away.
As reported by the Guardian, they also include measures to store rainwater and runoff, such as widespread use of water butts.
“Sponge cities are not a new concept and are being delivered internationally to manage demands for growth amidst water – typically flood and drought – crises,” the report said.
“In the UK we have our own water crises spanning these same challenges of either too much or too little water, as well as pollution.
“Greening our urban spaces is a win-win approach on all these fronts. We must flip the mindset that treats rainwater as a waste product to be got rid of in the urban environment, into one where it is a treasured resource.”
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Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management director Alastair Chisholm said rules to create sponge cities “should have come in in 2011” but were “were canned by Eric Pickles in 2015,” causing over 10 years of delays.
“This has been kicked down the road and what is going on now is the result of that,” Chisholm added.
“Over 30 years on from water privatisation, with widespread urbanisation and agricultural intensification, a fresh approach – including potential reform of water regulators – is needed,” the report says.
“With levels of trust in water companies impacted by repeated reports of pollution and profiteering, both public and water practitioners want more transparency and assurance that companies are acting in the interest of society and the environment.”
