Description

In modern cities where concrete rules supreme, could more porous surfaces be the answer to growing flood risks?

In January 2023 Auckland received an entire summer’s worth of rain in one day. It was the wettest month ever recorded, with more than half a metre falling in the central city in just a few hours.

The sheer volume of water overwhelmed Auckland’s stormwater system. It simply couldn’t drain the water away fast enough to prevent it accumulating. Some excess water was diverted to emergency storage like playing fields, parks and other ponding spaces where it could drain naturally. But in a modern city like Auckland, large areas of permeable land are increasingly hard to find.

Scope

This article includes:

• Impervious cities
• Performance in local conditions
• Challenges and limitations