Sichuan Province: Chongzhou City builds sponge city to enhance residents' happiness

As the only pilot county-level city in Chengdu City, Chongzhou was identified as a pilot city for the construction of sponge cities in Sichuan Province in 2016, and started the construction of sponge cities across the region in 2017. After several years of overall planning, the construction area of Chongzhou Sponge City has reached 21.5%, and the rainwater runoff control area has reached 32.56 square kilometers. The contiguous benefits have been initially manifested.

Departmental linkage, full process management guidance

Chongzhou City established the Sponge Office, established a departmental linkage mechanism, and coordinated and cooperated with multiple departments such as housing construction, water affairs, meteorology, and environmental protection to conduct the whole process management and guidance in land transfer, planning and design, construction and construction. At the same time, technical training will be carried out for project construction units, design units, supervision units, and construction units to improve the level of sponge city construction practitioners. Help solve the problems encountered by construction, design, and construction units in the process of sponge city construction, and guide design to reduce the cost of sponge city construction.

Online monitoring, prevention and early warning in the whole process

In 2018, Chongzhou established a sponge city online monitoring system to monitor rainwater runoff, water quality, weather and other elements in real time, providing basic data on urban water environment, water security, water resources, and water ecology, and providing early warning for urban flood control and drainage. So far, more than 200 sponge city projects in Chongzhou are steadily advancing. Including municipal roads, industrial projects, residential quarters, parks, green spaces, etc., through the construction of sponge cities, we will strengthen urban development safety, increase urban development resilience, improve construction ecological environment, and promote high-quality urban development.

Renovate old areas to improve residents' happiness

In Chongzhou City, in addition to the introduction of the "sponge city" concept in all newly built communities in accordance with planning requirements, many old communities have also undergone "micro-renovation" of sponge facilities. In the renovated No. 45 community of Zhengdong Street, the sponge city elements such as permeable parking spaces, permeable roadways, rainwater collection and storage tanks are all available. "It used to be puddles when it rained, and the elderly and children couldn't go out at all. Now there is no accumulation of water anymore, which brings real convenience to everyone." Uncle Liu, a community resident, told reporters.

According to the person in charge of the sponge office of Chongzhou City, the most intuitive feeling for the residents of sponge city construction is that the problem of waterlogging has been greatly improved, and the problem of "city conserving groundwater" has been solved. The concept of "green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains" has been implemented, bringing residents a rising sense of happiness. In 2021, Chongzhou will continue to carry out the construction of sponge cities, and strive to achieve "no water accumulation in light rain, no waterlogging in heavy rain, no black and smelly water bodies, and relief of heat islands".