stormwater
Newsletter
Credit: OlgaKorica/Big Stock Photo
Harnessing urban stormwater could revolutionize city water management
Cities in the United States have the untapped potential to capture a significant amount of stormwater, which could lead to more sustainable water resource management.
In short:
- Urban planning historically treated stormwater as a nuisance, leading to innovative infrastructure developments to manage it sustainably.
- The Pacific Institute reports that American cities generate 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater annually, a significant potential water source.
- “Sponge city” methods and smarter infrastructure can aid in utilizing stormwater, mitigating climate change impacts on water resources.
Key quote:
"There really is no reason why stormwater capture shouldn't be up there on the list of water sources for all communities in the country that are looking to secure their long-term supplies."
— Bruk Berhanu, senior researcher at the Pacific Institute
Why this matters:
Effective stormwater management is pivotal for health outcomes, as it ensures a resilient water supply amidst intensifying droughts and floods due to climate change, and plays a crucial role in urban sustainability.
As of 2021, stormwater infrastructure in the U.S. has a grade of "D" from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Newsletter
Los Angeles demonstrates the effectiveness of sponge city infrastructure
In the midst of unyielding downpours, Los Angeles' innovative "sponge" infrastructure successfully captured 8.6 billion gallons of water, providing enough resources to support more than 100,000 households for an entire year.
In short:
- LA's transformation into a sponge city includes permeable surfaces and spreading grounds to absorb stormwater.
- The city captured 8.6 billion gallons of water during a recent atmospheric river event, enough for over 100,000 households for a year.
- This approach is part of a broader strategy to manage water resources sustainably and mitigate urban flooding.
Key quote:
"The more trees, the more shade, the less heat island effect."
— Art Castro, manager of watershed management, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Why this matters:
LA's success in managing extreme weather through sponge city infrastructure is a model for sustainable urban planning. It demonstrates how cities can adapt to climate change, reduce flooding, and efficiently utilize natural resources.
Capturing and reusing urban storm water could be a boon for water-stressed cities—if we can find a way to clean it up.
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The weird way that human waste is killing corals
Wastewater fuels blooms of reef-smothering algae. Better engineering and an army of funny-looking fish can come to the rescue.
Top Story
Photo by Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash
As extreme weather outpaces response, could crowdsourced data help?
Tijuana’s Citizens’ Flood Monitor offers a model for data collection in the flood-affected West.
NZ cities urgently need to become 'spongier' – but system change will be expensive
Flood and cyclone damage shows why turning Auckland and other urban parts of New Zealand into ‘sponge cities’ is the right idea. But overseas experience from China and beyond shows it won’t be cheap.
How playgrounds are becoming a secret weapon in the fight against clim
Across the country, cities are transforming asphalt schoolyards into spongy, shady community centers.
Chesapeake Bay Program/Flickr
The heat is on: Warming water threatens aquatic life in Chesapeake Bay region
Warming water is threatening to undo decades of efforts aimed at improving aquatic habitat in the Chesapeake region, from headwater streams to the open water of the Bay itself.
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