idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Hof / Mexico City – Water scarcity, flooding, and overstretched infrastructure pose enormous challenges for megacities around the world. This is particularly evident in the 23-million-inhabitant metropolis of Mexico City. How innovative concepts for sustainable water management can help address these challenges was examined by Christopher Funk, a master’s student in the “Sustainable Water Management and Engineering” program at Hof University of Applied Sciences, during a research semester in the winter semester of 2024/25. On behalf of the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa), he analyzed the potential of the so-called sponge city concept at two schools in the Mexican metropolis.
The sponge city concept is a central element of research and teaching at inwa. Christopher Funk had already worked on related topics as a student research assistant when he expressed his wish to complete a research semester abroad. Mexico City was chosen as a study area because, despite high levels of rainfall, the city suffers from severe water scarcity. Major water losses in the distribution network, falling groundwater levels, and the impacts of climate change further exacerbate the situation.
Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan from inwa recalls: “Mr. Funk approached me about a research semester in Mexico City at a time when we were working on the digitalization of a green roof at a primary school in Schauenstein. This led to the question of how schools in Mexico City are dealing with the challenges of climate change and what role sponge city solutions play in this context.”
The sponge city concept: storing water instead of draining it
The sponge city concept was developed in the mid-2000s and systematically implemented in China from 2013 onward to make cities more resilient to heavy rainfall and flooding. The basic idea is simple: rainwater should not be drained away as quickly as possible, but rather stored where it falls. Through green roofs, infiltration areas, or vegetated swales, water can be retained in the soil, filtered, and returned to the groundwater. At the same time, these measures promote evaporation during dry periods, providing cooling and thus making an important contribution to mitigating urban heat islands.
Initial initiatives in Mexico City also focus on green-blue infrastructure and the importance of soils. A key factor is the interaction between overarching urban strategies and many smaller, individual measures. Schools play a special role in this context, as they not only provide space but also serve as places of learning and awareness-raising.
Schools as key sites for water sensitivity
In his research project, Christopher Funk focused on two selected schools in Mexico City. The aim was to examine which sponge city elements could be meaningfully implemented there, which conditions promote or hinder their realization, and what recommendations can be derived from this. This approach was inspired by earlier studies at Hof University of Applied Sciences, which had shown that real sponge city solutions can offer significant added value even in primary school education.
“It was impressive to see how much the sponge city concept can enrich everyday school life,” Funk reports. “Even simple, pragmatic solutions showed noticeable effects in dealing with water scarcity.”
Scientific approach with practical relevance
Methodologically, the study used a so-called mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Based on a systematic literature review, social, economic, and political evaluation criteria were developed and then supplemented by interviews with school principals and teachers. The respondents’ statements were analyzed, made comparable, and integrated into a decision-making model in order to assess the overall potential of sponge city approaches at the schools.
Results: high social potential, structural barriers
The study examined a primary school in the Iztapalapa district and a secondary school in the Gustavo A. Madero borough. In both cases, a high level of social potential was identified: sponge city measures can be well integrated into everyday school life and are met with strong acceptance among teachers and students alike. At the same time, significant constraints became apparent. Economic uncertainties—particularly regarding funding and maintenance—as well as unclear building regulations and a lack of political support limit implementation opportunities.
While the secondary school performed somewhat better due to more favorable financial conditions, the political environment remained a key inhibiting factor at both sites.
Recommendations and outlook
Based on the results, Christopher Funk derived concrete recommendations. These include improved access to green spaces, stronger integration of sustainability into the curriculum, the promotion of external partnerships, clearer legal frameworks, and more intensive cooperation with public authorities. Long-term financing and further research with a larger sample size were also identified as important next steps.
A contribution to sustainable urban development
The research project thus demonstrated how university research can provide concrete answers to global challenges. Using schools as an example, it became clear that sponge city concepts are not merely technical solutions but also generate social and educational impacts. For megacities such as Mexico City, this can represent an important building block on the path toward greater water security and sustainable development—with impulses from Hof reaching far beyond the region.
Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan
Criteria of this press release:
Business and commerce, Journalists, Scientists and scholars, Students, Teachers and pupils, all interested persons
Construction / architecture, Economics / business administration, Environment / ecology, Oceanology / climate
transregional, national
Research projects, Transfer of Science or Research
English
You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.
You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).
Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.
You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).
If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).
