China's ‘Sponge Cities’: The role of constructed wetlands in alleviating urban pluvial flooding

Research examined constructed wetlands (CWs) in piloting the ‘Sponge City’, a Chinese initiative designed, part, to curtail extensive urban pluvial flooding. In Yangzhou small number of exploratory qualitative interviews with relevant professionals elucidated key issues. The interviewees supported concept CWs but were uniformly sceptical about their viability. A possible CW city was also modelled, quantifying its effects and limitations. Results show that can help attenuate flooding there are important caveats concerning implementation. These concern size capacity, sufficiency space, economic sustainability. political dimension Sponge City concept, including support from President Xi Jinping, suggests may be distraction more widespread flooding, which well not alleviate. Piloting is continuing results will need positive if Cities strategically flood attenuation measure.