Flood fix

Urban planning consultant and university professor Carol Archer is urging Jamaica to adopt the globally recognised ‘sponge city’ model to better cope with the increasing impact of climate change, especially the rise in urban flooding.

Her recommendation comes in the wake of two consecutive weekends of heavy rainfall in the Corporate Area, which caused widespread and repeated flooding in several areas.

Archer pointed to a growing body of data showing an increase in both the frequency and intensity of rainfall events, which she identifies as a clear consequence of climate change. However, official data on the amount of rainfall across both weekends is unavailable and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica has a 10- to 14-day response time for requests.

According to Archer, Jamaica’s infrastructure and urban planning strategies have not kept pace with modern development and climate realities. She noted that as the country has shifted from single-family homes to multi-family, high-rise buildings, more land has been paved over without adequate drainage systems to manage runoff.

She said the drainage system has not been upgraded since the late 1960s.

“We have increased development in terms of land use, and we have increased intensity of rainfall. So that’s a recipe for disaster, which is what we are experiencing now,” said Archer.

She emphasised that Kingston has expanded significantly, with developments stretching from the coast inland towards the hills. This geographic shift means more stormwater runoff from elevated areas, which is not being properly absorbed.

“So the volume is coming from the north, from the hills; with the frequency and the intensity, the debris and the water rushes down. If you look at the geography of the city, it slopes towards the sea. So as the water flows, it flows downwards. So places such as Chelsea [Avenue] and Mountain View will be impacted because of lower elevation,” she said.

While a drainage system does exist, Archer said it is no longer sufficient for the scale and nature of current development. She proposes that Jamaica look to the sponge city concept, already in use in global cities such as New York and Copenhagen.

Originating in China, sponge cities are designed to sustainably manage stormwater by replicating natural processes of water absorption. They incorporate green infrastructure – such as rain gardens, wetlands, green roofs, bioswales, and permeable pavements – to soak up, filter, store, and reuse rainwater. The approach reduces flooding, improves water quality, replenishes groundwater, and increases urban resilience.

China launched its sponge city initiative in 2015. The model has triggered global adaptations, often under different names like ‘blue-green infrastructure’ or ‘porous cities’. Cities are evaluated for sponginess based on green/blue space coverage and absorption potential.

“So they (sponge cities) serve dual purposes during the dry period, they’re open public spaces. So you can do skateboarding. You can plant your flower gardens for the community, but during periods of heavy rain, it then becomes a pond. I’ve yet to see or hear our officials bringing that discussion to the table. What I see is in rainwater harvesting,” said Archer.

The concept is not practised in Jamaica, though the Government is actively adopting similar nature-based solutions and green infrastructure (GI) for sustainable storm water management and flood resilience.

“Rainwater harvesting for some people is just putting up a black tank and having it collecting the water from the roof. It’s a little bit more than just rainwater harvesting. It is taking the water from the roof of the development and channelling it not into the roadway, but to a section of the built underground, and that water can be treated and put back in the system for heating and cooling of the building itself, so you don’t have to install these expensive air conditioners,” she explained.

“So what I would recommend is that we can look at how do we manage, first and foremost, the water that is coming from these developments. Because if you look at these massive developments that are being built, if you go to Charlemont, if you go to Liguanea, Hope Pastures, what is happening? The areas are paved over. There are no grassy areas…so, the sponge city is really helpful,” she added.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com