In a context of accelerated urbanization and increasingly extreme climatic events, water management is consolidated as one of the fundamental pillars for the development of sustainable cities.
According to United Nations data, more than 55% of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas, a figure that will continue to grow in the coming decades. In this scenario, thinking about the urban future necessarily involves rethinking how the most vital resource: water, is cared for, distributed, and reused.
Traditional urban planning, based on soil impermeabilization and drainage systems that prioritize the rapid evacuation of rainwater, shows limits in the face of intense and prolonged storms. Floods, infrastructure collapses, and economic losses are some of the consequences. Therefore, the new paradigm aims to integrate water into the very design of the city.
Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
One of the keys is to incorporate green infrastructure: green roofs and blue roofs, plazas capable of acting as water reservoirs, and permeable pavements that allow the absorption and filtration of rainwater. These solutions, in addition to reducing the risk of flooding, improve air quality, moderate urban temperature, and create quality public spaces.
“Thinking about sustainable cities implies assuming that water is not an infinite resource. Its responsible management must be integrated into territorial planning, housing policies, and the design of public spaces.
The urban future will depend on the ability to transform water into a strategic ally. Ultimately, building resilient cities also means building a new relationship with water, more conscious, efficient, and supportive of future generations,” highlighted Sandra Perez, product manager at Amanco Wavin.
However, for these strategies to be effective, they must be complemented with technical solutions that allow the controlled and efficient reuse of excess rainwater. In this context, Amanco Wavin develops a range of solutions focused on correctly managing the urban water cycle to achieve sustainable and climate-resilient cities.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS),
One of the main responses to intense rains is the incorporation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), which complement traditional infrastructure by retaining, infiltrating, and regulating rainwater.
Unlike the model based solely on underground conduits, these systems include reservoirs, permeable pavements, and storage modules that control the flow, reduce the load on stormwater networks, prevent flooding, and promote aquifer recharge.
