Increasingly Extreme Weather

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, with cities across the globe facing dangerous challenges from hurricanes, heavy rain, and flash flooding. The combination of climate change and rapid urbanization has made stormwater management a critical component of climate resilience.

Traditional stormwater infrastructure, built to whisk water away as quickly as possible, can get overwhelmed during major storm events, causing streets to flood, pollutants to wash into waterways, and communities to experience costly damage.

Now more than ever, innovative stormwater solutions are needed to help cities absorb the impact of extreme weather while creating more sustainable urban environments. This is why natural solutions that manage stormwater where it falls — such as Marino Cell — are more important than ever.

Working with Nature, Not Against it

Urban development replaces natural landscapes with impervious surfaces — concrete, asphalt, and buildings — which prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground. Stormwater runoff thus rushes into drainage systems, which were often built decades ago and struggle to handle today’s extreme rainfall events, leading to increased flooding, water pollution, and groundwater depletion.

Green stormwater infrastructure instead works alongside a site’s natural environment, allowing runoff to be treated at source, slowing, capturing, and filtering stormwater before it reaches the drainage system or local watersheds.

Marino Cell and Climate Resilience

The Marino Cell is a shallow stormwater storage device designed for complex built environments where traditional stormwater systems often fall short. It offers a high-capacity, space-efficient way to manage runoff, reduce flooding, and support green infrastructure.

By integrating Marino Cell into urban stormwater planning, cities and developers can store stormwater where it falls, rather than rushing it into overburdened systems. This not only helps prevent flooding but also allows for better groundwater recharge and pollution control.

In what ways does Marino Cell support the environmental resilience of cities?

• Reduced Flooding Risks: The Marino Cell allows water to be stored underground in previously unusable spaces, reducing surface runoff, alleviating stress on storm drains, and minimizing flood risks during extreme weather events.
• Improved Water Quality: By slowing and capturing runoff, the Marino Cell enables natural infiltration and filtration processes which remove pollutants like oil, heavy metals, and sediment before they enter waterways.
• Enhanced Green Spaces: By keeping water on site, it can be reused for green space enhancement, including irrigation for trees and plants which supports urban biodiversity and promotes healthier, more sustainable landscapes.
• Increased Urban Space Efficiency: Fitting into tight, underutilized spaces allows for better land use, freeing up valuable real estate for green spaces, pedestrian pathways, and community amenities.
• Groundwater Recharge: Rather than sending stormwater directly into sewer systems, the Marino Cell facilitates on-site water retention and infiltration, helping replenish aquifers and maintain natural hydrological cycles.
• Reduced Heat Island Effect: Mature, healthy trees (supported by at-source irrigation) create large canopies, which in turn reduce heat buildup from concrete and asphalt, making cities cooler and more livable.

Building Resilience, One Drop at a Time

Extreme weather is here to stay, and cities must adapt by embracing smart stormwater management strategies. Whether through green infrastructure or hidden storage systems like Marino Cell, the goal is the same: to make stormwater an asset, not a liability, thereby increasing the sustainability and efficiency of our communities.