The first demonstration sponge road in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, will be completed by the end of September, and designers say it will be an effective tool for the collection and reuse of rainwater.

According to builders of the road, the 920.63-meter long sponge road can absorb, store, and purify water effectively and reuse it to water the green belt along roadsides.

The plants, through transpiration, can humidify the surrounding air, which will improve the environment along the entire road.

Additionally, water collected can be drained into an underground water system, which will provide benefits to counter the lack of underground water resources.

Water collection structure of Changchun's first sponge road. [Photo/cnjiwang.com]