Situated in the urban economic heart of Foshan, Guangzhou, Canton First Estate is a "sponge city community" developed by New World China Land. The aim of this project is to increase its resilience against extreme climate conditions such as flooding and water shortages. Sponge city design features include:
- Water Storage: 35 interconnected lakes with a storage capacity of 1.1 million cubic meters. Water storage in the 35 lakes fully meet the irrigation demands of the nearby golf course.
- Water Permeation: Restoration of eroded lands and preservation of 47 hectares of natural forest.
- Water Purification: Adoption of water purification technologies including floating islands, artificial and natural wetlands and a waste water treatment system capable of treating up to 4.45 million cubic meters of water per year.
- Water Retention: The bioswales makes use of the natural terrain to maximise rainwater capture which is directed to the lakes for further purification.