SUDS Webinar: The Regional Ministry for Development opts to implement sustainable drainage systems as an "eco-efficient" solution to reduce flooding

30/11/2020

It is one of the proposals from the expert panel to contain rainwater in urban environments

The Regional Ministry for Development and Infrastructures has opted to implement sustainable drainage systems as an "eco-efficient" solution to reduce the risk of flooding in urban environments. The so-called SUDS will make it possible to collect, transport, purify, retain, infiltrate and drain rainwater sustainably.

The regional minister José Ramón Díez de Revenga spoke today in the webinar organised by the newspaper La Verdad, where he presented this proposal, contained in the strategic document drawn up by the panel of experts put together by the Autonomous Region after the 'DANA' storm last year, to prevent the risk of flooding in the Region of Murcia.

"The application of nature-based solutions (NbS) represents a change of model and a different way of dealing with flooding in the Region of Murcia," explained the minister, who indicated the importance of spreading awareness of this type of innovation "so that society as a whole can learn about them and apply them".

He recalled that the DANA (Isolated Upper Level Depression) storm last year "was the most violent in 750 years," and since then the regional government has been working in search of solutions of different types to "curb the speed of the water, reduce its flow and channel it", thereby preventing the possible damage caused by these torrential rains, which "are becoming more and more frequent due to climate change".

The minister stated the need to opt for "innovative, unifying, sustainable and cross-cutting solutions" such as SUDS to prevent flooding, "because they provide a response to different problems related to land management, and because as well as improving the management of runoff waters, they mitigate the heat island effect".

"These types of solutions are also being encouraged through the Sustainable Construction and Architecture Strategy of the Region of Murcia (EACS), promoted by the regional government, which represents a paradigm shift in architecture and construction," stated the minister.

Díez de Revenga said that the EACS is aligned with the EU Urban Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which, "although they are not legally binding, we are implementing measures to contribute to achieving them". The ongoing implementation of sustainable drainage techniques could play an essential role in reaching the particular targets of each SDG, especially SDG 6: "Clean water and sanitation".

In this respect, in the field of construction, the regional ministry wants to encourage maximum efficiency energy fittings and the use of living roofs and vertical gardens, as well as all of the nature-based solutions that, as well as improving air quality, minimise the impact of floods.

The minister said there is a need for trained professionals who can put these actions into practice, and highlighted the experience of the "top level" speakers who participated in the seminar held today, such as the managing director of Green Blue Management, Sara Perals, the architect from the firm Zinc Arquitectura, Joaquín Ruiz, and the head of the inspection and monitoring department in the works and equipment section at Madrid City Council, Manuel de Pazos.

Photograph: Webinar - Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and climate change.

Video of the Webinar:

III Flood Solutions Webinar organised by La Verdad and the Autonomous Region - YouTube