Suwon Special Metropolitan City Launches Pavement Mist Spraying System to Combat Heat Wave

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special Metropolitan City announced on the 15th that it will fully operate the pavement mist spraying system and rainwater supply stations to prepare for heat waves.

The city completed preliminary inspections of the pavement mist spraying system and rainwater supply stations in May, and is now operating the system at 3 key locations on major roads within the city. Additionally, it is supplying rainwater for various purposes through 7 rainwater supply stations.

The pavement mist spraying system is a system that sprays collected rainwater onto roads. It operates when temperatures exceed 30°C or when an extreme heat advisory is issued, helping to lower temperatures. It also sprays rainwater when fine dust advisories are issued, helping to reduce fine dust pollution.

The pavement mist spraying system operates at 3 sections: △in front of Suwon Convention Center on Gwanggyo Central-ro △in front of Suwon Sports Complex on Gyeongsu-daero △in front of Gwanggyo Middle School on Well-being Town-ro △in front of Suwon World Cup Stadium on World Cup-ro (under maintenance). With an increase in heat wave days last year, the system was activated 96 times, and as the average temperature from July to September this year is expected to be higher than normal, the number of operations is expected to increase.

Rainwater supply stations are operated at 7 locations: △Suwon World Cup Stadium △Suwon Sports Complex △Gwanggyo Middle School △Dasan Park (2 units) △Iui Archery Range △Gwanggyo The Live.

The rainwater supply stations are facilities in the shape of gas pumps that supply stored rainwater for road cleaning water, water-sprinkling vehicle supplies, and landscaping water. Citizens, public institutions, and construction projects can use them free of charge. This helps reduce tap water consumption and promotes the reuse of water resources.

A city official stated, "We are responding to climate crises such as heat waves and fine dust by utilizing wasted rainwater as an urban asset," and added, "We will continue to expand rainwater reuse and contribute to creating a Sponge City and achieving carbon neutrality (Net Zero)."

Meanwhile, a Sponge City is a water-cycle-based urban planning concept designed to absorb, retain, purify, and reuse rainwater like a sponge, aiming to address climate crises through flood mitigation, drought preparedness, water quality improvement, and heat island effect mitigation.