With climate conditions changing, our drainage system needs to as well.

In July 2021, several European countries were affected by severe floods. Some were catastrophic, causing deaths and widespread damage. In the same month, China's Henan province was ravaged by devastating floods caused by a period of prolonged heavy rainfall.

The drainage system fails to discharge the floodwaters from the rainstorm, resulting in numerous waterlogged road sections.

In the aftermath, scientists, activists and reporters all highlighted the connection to global trends in extreme weather, especially more frequent heavy rainfall caused by climate change. This will be a great test of the sustainable drainage system. Does the design for drainage systems meet the standard? What is the solution to the hardening ground caused by urban construction?

As a manufacturer of the road infrastructure facility, Jinmeng is committed to improving road safety and has long been the supplier of high-quality road infrastructure facilities, including a large number of drainage products.

Jinmeng has made some reflections from its own industry, starting with the analysis of the severe urban flooding and research measures, which are shared with you through this article.

Existing problems

• Inadequate drainage facilities in the city

  In the history of urban construction, the number of drainage facilities in many cities was set according to the amount of rainfall, hence, cities with less rainfall have fewer drainage facilities. However, the amount of rainfall has gradually increased in recent years due to various factors, mainly human activities; the original drainage facilities are outnumbered the actual amounts of facilities needed to "walk" the rainwaters off. The results are waterlogged roads and stagnation.

  
  

  

  
  

• The simple drainage facility is impotent in conveying excessive water.

  Some cities only have sewer wells and downpipes in their drainage systems which is too simple to remove the accumulated water in time. Other facilities like roadside drains and ditches must be constructed to improve the water discharging capability of these systems.

  
  

• In face of the changing rainfall patterns, the old drainage facilities fail to meet the drainage requirement today.

  In recent years, heavy rainfall become a more and more common phenomenon. The old drainage facilities are incapable of dealing with the erratic rainfall in extreme weather.

How to address these problems?

• Construct more drainage facilities

  More drainage facilities should be constructed in areas with large rainfall as well as in cities with less rainfall in case of unprecedented rainstorms.

  
  

• Introduce new facilities to the drainage system

  Drainage facilities that perform better in expelling waters should be introduced in some cities with a simple drainage system. Linear drainage and roadside drainage products are excellent choices they help to quickly discharge the rainwaters, preventing waterlogging.

  
  

  

  Jinmeng Linear Drainage Products

  
  

  

  Jinmeng Roadside Drainage Products

  
  

• Expand the drainage surface

  As rainfall increases, a small proportion of the drainage surface of a drainage facility may lead to rainwater accumulation on the road surface in a short time. To address this problem, it is necessary to increase the proportion of the drainage surface of some drainage facilities to help rainwater to infiltrate more quickly.