The city of Xiamen in Fujian province has been selected to become a pilot “sponge city”. With support from central government finance, the city is setting out to resolve its water-logging problems.

Instead of relying solely on draining away water, the project hopes to improve the city’s water absorption capability. The city’s authorities also hope to put into place measures to purify and reclaim water to be used in agriculture, industry and households.

According to the Xiamen Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, the central government will allocate 400 million yuan ($64.57 million) per year to the city for three successive years.

Fifty-nine projects with a total investment of 5.57 billion yuan will be constructed in the Maluanwan area from 2015 to 2017. The city’s sewage disposal system will be upgraded to enhance its capability of discharging sewage and more drainage pipelines will be placed in low-lying areas.

Ecological management is the vital part of the project. Inland waterways and wetlands, as natural water reservoirs in the city, will be protected in the coming years.

Community rooftops will also be fully utilized as part of the plan with the aim of popularizing “green roofs” to capture rainwater.

By Liu Xiaoyu from China Daily Fujian Bureau