Water Management– tag –

Modern cities move rainwater away as quickly as possible. Sponge cities take a different approach: making room for water through wetlands, rain gardens, and green spaces. Discover how this approach supports urban flood resilience—and why drainage infrastructure remains essential.

Methane from rice paddies accounts for approximately 40 percent of Japan’s methane emissions. Extending midseason drainage can reduce emissions by around 30 percent, but crop yields, biodiversity, food safety, and farmers’ workloads must also be considered.

Japan’s irrigation ponds have supported rice farming, wildlife, and rural communities for centuries. Today, aging infrastructure, fewer managers, and heavier rainfall are turning these familiar waterscapes into growing disaster risks.