What are sponge cities and can London become one?

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Flood In London three years There is cause widespread Shame And disturbance. A path has avoid A repeat East For THE capital has become more… spongy.

Sponge cities to use Green the spaces as parks And blue the spaces as some lakes And rivers has absorb rainwater And allow he has emptying far without issue. Given that flash flood has has been appointed A "deadly risk" has people life In London, THE rich in park capital seems A natural adjust For THE concept. But he could not be that simple.

What are sponge cities?

THE concrete jungles of THE 21 century are prove inadequate In THE confront of increase precipitation And surface flood. This type of flood arrived When big the amounts of rain autumn on "hard, raincoat surfaces such as concrete, overwhelming THE local drainage system", said THE BBC. As more rain falls THE system back up, "exit water has pool on roads And sidewalks."

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In THE UNITED KINGDOM, waste And rainwater are often door In THE even pipe, SO heavy precipitation can lead has overflows of polluted Waste In OUR Waterways. A sponge city East designed has absorb rainwater by using Green And blue the spaces has lower THE Rising of excess rainwater enter THE sanitation system.

Sponge cities "imitate natural process", said THE Rivers Trust, allowing urban areas has "absorb, store, And purify rainwater, a lot as A sponge quenching up water". They deploy miscellaneous Green Infrastructure techniques, including permeable sidewalks, Green rooftops And urban swamps, has slow down THE to flow of rainwater And gradually release he In rivers And streams.

THE natural systems of sponge cities "not only catch THE water", said ERCP London, but "store And purify he, relieve water shortage, support habitat And the biodiversity, And keep cities cool instead that heavy in asphalt cities which isolate heat."

Cities such as Shanghai, New York And Cardiff are Already "to kiss their 'spongy' through downtown gardens, improved river drainage And lined with plants sidewalks",...