Sponge City technology manages stormwater and reduces runoffs, thus alleviating flooding and stormwater pollution.
Sponge Cities make a splash in region
01 April 2023
A new urban development model aimed at creating sustainable and resilient urban environments through permeable roads, honeycomb water storage, rain gardens, and groundwater recharging, was showcased during the recent Innovation Week in Dubai, which was hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI).
Dake Rechsand, a Dubai-based company specialising in sustainability solutions for desert farming and water conservation, showcased the revolutionary potential of Sponge Cities in mitigating floods and addressing water scarcity – two key priorities for the UAE.
The technology manages stormwater and reduces runoffs, thus alleviating flooding and stormwater pollution, besides improving water quality and security and increasing green spaces, according to Dake Rechsand, which promoted it through its proprietary IDer range of solutions.
Sponge City is a stormwater management infrastructure that absorbs water at scale. Unlike conventional stormwater management and drainage, Sponge Cities not only absorb all the surface runoffs but also possess clean storage and reuse capabilities, says the company.
“The charm of Sponge City lies in its scalability — individuals can incorporate it at a domestic scale just as governments can across urban centres,” Chandra Dake, CEO of Dake Rechsand, told Gulf Construction.
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Dake explains the concept in Dubai. |
“The volume of outcomes changes; not the value. Likewise, as part of green building projects, developers can pave Sponge City solutions like IDer across common areas. In application, they absorb rainfall runoffs, keep surfaces free from waterlogging and skidding, and filter and store the water in underground reservoirs. The harvested water can enhance community-level water security, enable natural greenery through water-wise landscaping, and, eventually, translate to self-sufficiency – all adding to holistic sustainability.”
As a result, they are considered to be particularly viable in water-stressed regions like the Mena area, where rains are either scanty or heavy. Sponge Cities, by design, include waterways that will avert flooding and clogging.
“Sponge Cities are the logical solution to the Mena region’s water worries. The fundamental aspect of Sponge Cities is the air and water-permeable material — available in the form of pavers, kerbstones, tiles, and bricks – which is implemented in rain-exposed areas such as parking lots, playgrounds, and roads,”
“Today, when there is a need to integrate the blue (water), green (plants, trees, etc.), and grey (sewers, canals, etc.) infrastructures, the case for adopting an interdisciplinary solution such as Sponge Cities is compelling,” he adds.
The urban development model was well received by key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, said to the company.
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Sponge Cities aims to create sustainable urban environments through permeable roads, honeycomb water storage, rain gardens, and groundwater recharging. |
Engineer Ahmad Al Hammadi, Director of Financial Sustainability and Investment, MOEI, said innovative solutions, such as Sponge Cities, have the potential to improve the safety and quality of public facilities and infrastructure while enhancing response to emergencies and incidences throughout rainy seasons.
Dr Alaeldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, MOEI, commented: “I haven’t come across an innovation like this in many years. Sponge Cities are an amazing solution to harvest rainwater and support irrigation. Additionally, its filtration and redirection capabilities translate to efficient greywater management.”
Echoing the same sentiment, Eng Mohammed, Water Resources Division, MOEI, said: “Sponge Cities can be so beneficial to the UAE because of their viability for the 3Rs: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.”
The effectiveness of the solution has encouraged Dake Rechsand to partner and collaborate with government entities, developers, and corporates across the UAE to achieve national-level sustainability and climate action goals.
Dake Rechsand is a leading company in sustainable technologies and nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration. It has developed innovative solutions for water conservation and sustainable farming, and has been recognised with a Gulf Sustainability Gold Award for Innovations.
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