THE Shanghai government is planning to begin trails of the “Sponge City” concept that is already in operation in other parts of the country. The scheme seeks to make use of the rainwater that falls in public places by absorbing it through special surfaces and redirecting it into storage reservoirs for later use, the head of the city’s housing and urban-rural development commission told a press conference. The trails will be held in the Lingang, Songjiang New Town and Taopu areas in the city, the official said.