News > What are sponge cities and how do they work?

What are sponge cities and how do they work?

On July 2, 2011, Copenhagen was struck by what was dubbed “a once in a 1000-year rain” which started to become increasingly common. With concrete and asphalt covering areas once given over to grass and soil, the water from heavy rains has nowhere to go. To reverse this, cities are turning themselves into urban “sponges”  i.e. they are creating spaces and infrastructure to absorb, hold and release water in a way that allows it to flow back into the water cycle.