The Regional Ministry for Development encourages town councils to promote sustainable drainage systems to prevent flooding in their urban areas
26/02/2021
Around a hundred people attended the digital session presenting a study on these systems, commissioned by the Region from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena
Regional minister Díez de Revenga emphasised the inclusion of "green solutions" in regional legislation.
The Regional Ministry for Development and Infrastructures encouraged town councils and local organisations to promote the implementation of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS), with the aim of preventing flooding in their urban centres and combatting the effects of climate change. These types of projects could be funded using the new European 'Next Generation' funds.
That is what regional minister José Ramón Díez de Revenga said today in the opening speech of a digital workshop in which he presented the study commissioned by the Autonomous Region from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT). The session was attended by around a hundred people, with speeches by the professor and leader of the study Fernando García Martín, and the region's general director of Architecture, Jaime Pérez Zulueta.
"At the Regional Government, we are looking at solutions to the flood risks in the Region of Murcia, through measures that work with nature rather than against it, by implementing nature-based solutions," explained the regional leader, who added that they complement each other.
He specifically referred to SUDS, such as permeable paving or floodable parks, among other measures, which produce 'sponge cities', helping water to infiltrate the ground during heavy downpours, thereby preventing the water from flowing through cities and causing damage.
"These innovative solutions, which complement traditional measures that channel water flow, will help to halt the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of flooding," assured the minister.
The UPCT study offers a catalogue of building procedures that aim to progressively slow down the water all along the basin, by retaining the water, storing it and infiltrating it into the ground. It is part of the Sustainable Construction and Architecture Strategy, and provides a response to the priority objective of flood prevention set by the regional government after the 'DANA' (Isolated Upper Level Depression) storm of 2019.
Green solutions in regional legislation
During his presentation, the regional minister highlighted the inclusion of these "green solutions" in the current regional legislation concerning the Ground which, as well as covering the sustainable development goals (SDGs), promotes measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change through renaturalisation of cities and the renovation of buildings using sustainable criteria.
The Regional Government is considering the application of sustainable drainage systems in the Land Use Plans to coordinate their roll-out in several urban centres. Furthermore, the obligatory nature of applying these types of innovative measures has been established in the general plans for municipal planning, partial plans and special plans. Likewise, they will be included in urban development projects in streets, green areas and car parks to eliminate the vulnerability of public spaces, as well as in maintenance works for the urban development of public spaces.
Images: Session on the implementation of SUDS to prevent flooding
The regional minister for Development and Infrastructures, José Ramón Díez de Revenga, UPCT professor Fernando García, and regional director of Architecture Jaime Pérez Zulueta, during the digital sessions to present a study on the implementation of sustainable drainage sessions to prevent the risk of flooding in urban areas.
Statements: Regional minister for Development and Infrastructures, José Ramón Díez de Revenga, on the digital sessions to present a study by the UPCT on the implementation of sustainable drainage systems to prevent the risk of flooding in urban areas.
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Link to the video of the technical workshop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7wU4kZw-Wc&feature=youtu.be
Link to the action:
