Application of Sponge City for Controlling Surface Runoff Pollution

Nowadays, due to the complexity of urban growth and the frequency of extreme stormwater events, flooding has emerged as a major global problem. Scientists and engineers are competing to find the best and most economical ways to prevent flooding. In 2014, China introduced the concept of a sponge city, similar to the low-impact development (LID) approach, comprising several facilities to prevent flooding. In addition to preventing flooding, this approach offers various benefits such as increasing groundwater levels and expanding green spaces. Sponge city is based on four basic principles: urban water resourcing, ecological water management, green infrastructures, and urban permeable pavement. It involves transforming urban infrastructures into green infrastructures. This review analyzes insights from more than 50 articles focusing on various sponge city facilities and classifying them based on their roles in infiltration, retention, storage, purification, use, and drainage. It also compares Sponge city with traditional runoff management approaches. Overall, this review aims to deepen our understanding of modern urban water management strategies and their implications for sustainable development.