4 Oft-Ignored Stormwater Management Solutions Cities Should Have

Posted by Anna Johnson on February 15th, 2023

Global warming has resulted in more frequent and severe storms. Cities that used to have minimal flooding are experiencing disastrous deluges and soil erosion. It is important to advance public policies with climate change in mind.

Below is a rundown of some stormwater solutions cities tend to ignore or downplay. They may not seem to offer much, but they provide real benefits.

Rainwater harvesting

The collection and storage of rainwater yield at least two advantages. For one, it provides households or businesses with free water for later use. Another important advantage is the slowing of water flow into drainages. This benefit may not seem much, but it helps, especially when the storms do not last long. Also, it is advantageous to have water available when heavy storms and floods damage major water pipelines.

Retaining walls

Some cities leave the construction of retaining walls to private individuals or businesses. This policy usually happens, especially when there is a perception that private individuals or businesses are the ones directly benefiting from the project. This should not be the case since soil erosion and landslides affect everyone.

Collapsing land slopes can block roads or cause serious accidents. Business activity and the movement of people significantly slow down when there are road obstructions. Clearing them up also entails more public funds spending. It is better to allocate funds for a retaining wall project than to repeatedly spend public funds on clearing and reconstruction operations. Click here to find high-quality and cost-efficient retaining wall systems.

Constructed wetlands

Artificial wetlands help mitigate stormwater problems. They slow down the flow of stormwater and facilitate its absorption into the ground. They serve as temporary water stores that reduce flood volume. Also, they allow sediments to settle before the water goes to lower elevations. Man-made wetlands become additional sites for flora and fauna to thrive.

Cities can develop constructed wetlands further to turn them into tourist spots. They may be artificial, but they can help nurture nature. They become a home for various species of wild animals, including birds and fishes. Nature lovers and photographers frequent wetlands too.

Vertical and floating gardens

Vertical and floating gardens do not help slow down flooding. They do not have a vital role in mitigating or preventing severe flooding. However, it is advisable for local governments to consider these atypical garden styles as part of their stormwater management.

Vertical and floating gardens are less likely to be destroyed by floods. As such, the fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants grown on them can be safe from damaging flood currents. Hence, their growers can still benefit from them. Local governments should consider promoting these kinds of gardens if their locations are frequently battered by storms.

Stormwater management should not be limited to conventional solutions. There are other ways to address the problems brought about by stormwater. It is understandable, however, that not many use these solutions because they have yet to learn about them.