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Stormwater Management in Sponge Cities, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 199

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ECT—School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: water; wastewater; reuse; rainwater harvesting; NbS
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sponge cities are urban areas designed to absorb, capture, and manage stormwater runoff in a sustainable manner, mimicking the natural hydrological cycle. This concept is a response to rapid urbanization and the increased instances of flooding and water pollution.

Some key aspects of stormwater management in sponge cities include permeable surfaces such as permeable pavements, green roofs, and porous sidewalks. These surfaces allow rainwater to infiltrate into the ground rather than running off into storm drains. Incorporating green infrastructure elements like rain gardens, bioswales, and vegetated swales helps to capture and absorb stormwater. These features not only manage stormwater but also provide additional benefits such as improving air quality, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing urban heat island effect. Water harvesting and reuse is another key aspect to promote the harvesting and reuse of stormwater for various purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and groundwater recharge. This reduces the demand of potable water sources and helps to mitigate water scarcity. By implementing these strategies and technologies, sponge cities aim to mitigate the adverse impacts of urbanization on water resources, improve urban resilience to climate change, and create healthier and more sustainable urban environments.

Effective stormwater management in sponge cities requires integrated planning as well aspublic awareness and education.

We particularly invite contributions concerning the various aspects described in the summary.

Dr. Cristina Matos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • NbS
  • rainwater and stormwater management
  • stormwater quality
  • runoff reduction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 9958 KB  
Article
Integrating Blue–Green Infrastructure into Urban Spatial Planning: Comparative Insights from Ljubljana, Kraków, and Chinese Cities
by Shengnan Yang, Matej Radinja, Nataša Atanasova and Alma Zavodnik Lamovšek
Water 2026, 18(11), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18111271 - 24 May 2026
Abstract
Amid rapid urbanisation and the associated environmental challenges, such as increased flood risk, the urban heat island effect, and ecosystem degradation, Blue–Green Infrastructure (BGI) has emerged as a vital sustainable development strategy. Some countries have successfully implemented BGI projects, shaped by their unique [...] Read more.
Amid rapid urbanisation and the associated environmental challenges, such as increased flood risk, the urban heat island effect, and ecosystem degradation, Blue–Green Infrastructure (BGI) has emerged as a vital sustainable development strategy. Some countries have successfully implemented BGI projects, shaped by their unique geographical conditions, socioeconomic contexts, and governance structures. Although the BGI concept is highly relevant worldwide, strategies for integrating BGI into urban environments vary significantly across regions and countries due to their distinct urban structures and spatial planning systems. This study provides a comparative study of BGI implementation into spatial planning systems of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Kraków (Poland), as Central European cities, and Shanghai and Guangzhou, as Chinese cities. Through a systematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, the study evaluates how different enablers, i.e., (1) guidelines, strategies, and actions, (2) land-use strategy for BGI, and (3) potential of factors for BGI implementation, including planning scale, financial, technical, and spatial, facilitate BGI implementation. This comparative study reveals contrasting yet complementary BGI paradigms, most notably related to top-down versus bottom-up implementation and different prioritisation of BGI functions. These varying paradigms are shaped by specific urban challenges, governance, and spatial planning systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stormwater Management in Sponge Cities, 2nd Edition)
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