Sustainable stormwater management in Yinchuan New Town

In Yinchuan, China, a new urban area is planned for 160,000 inhabitants, in the vicinity of the Yellow River and close to a valuable natural landscape. To achieve sustainable development, an approach integrating urban planning, transport, energy, solid waste and water resources management is necessary. In order to achieve this, the SimbioCity approach was applied, where resource use and pollutant loads are reduced by creating cycles in which materials and water are recycled to the largest possible extent. In this context, the stormwater system is an important component. The objectives for the planned stormwater system in Yinchuan New City were to reduce flood risk and introduce stormwater purification, to maintain or improve water quality in the existing water bodies. A Sustainable Urban Drainage System approach was proposed and applied, during configuration and design of the new town's infrastructure. This proved both successful and cost effective.