PP Modular Rainwater Harvesting Tanks | High Load Detention Systems | Yayuan
Midway through 2026, the rainwater harvesting industry has delivered better-than-expected results. Industry statistics show that orders for rainwater harvesting equipment surged by 42% month-on-month in the first half of the year, while shipments of PP modular storage tanks rose 35% year-on-year. The global PP rainwater module market is also undergoing rapid expansion: valued at approximately USD 177 million in 2025, it is projected to reach USD 466 million by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.0%. Driven by urban renewal and underground pipeline renovation initiatives under the 15th Five-Year Plan, PP modules are evolving rapidly from an optional add-on for sponge city construction into a standard specification.
Shift in Selection Preference: Why PP Modules?
Underground water storage basins were once overwhelmingly built with reinforced concrete, yet this landscape is being systematically disrupted by PP module systems. The shift stems not from a single performance parameter, but from a comprehensive set of advantages that align perfectly with current project schedules.
In terms of construction, PP modules are manufactured via standardized injection molding and assembled on-site with interlocking clips. The construction timeline can be cut by 70% compared with conventional concrete tanks, and the system supports flexible capacity expansion at a later stage. For space efficiency, modules generally achieve a void ratio of over 95%, delivering a substantially higher effective water storage volume within the same underground footprint than solid concrete structures. Load-bearing capacity was once the primary concern surrounding plastic modules. Thanks to an optimized grid structural design, qualified module systems can meet load requirements for fire lanes, with a maximum load capacity exceeding 45 tonnes per square meter, fully satisfying standard load conditions for underground installation. Combined with eco-friendliness from its 100% recyclable raw material and lower overall project cost, PP modules have been widely adopted in residential communities, municipal roads, school playgrounds, industrial parks and other scenarios.
Policies further reinforce market certainty. Under the 15th Five-Year Plan, around 770,000 kilometers of urban underground pipelines are scheduled for construction or renovation nationwide, including roughly 175,000 kilometers of drainage pipelines. The watershed-scale annual total runoff control rate has shifted from a design reference indicator to an acceptance criterion. This means demand for rainwater detention facilities is no longer limited to scattered pilot projects; instead, it translates into systematic, incremental order volumes.
Zhengzhou Airport Zone Case: Yayuan’s Modular Supply Strategy
Amid soaring demand for PP modules, manufacturing capacity and product maturity on the supply side have become critical factors for successful project delivery. Based near the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, Zhengzhou Yayuan Sponge City Rainwater Utilization Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yayuan Technology) offers a valuable case study of how a regional leader captures this wave of market growth.
Yayuan Technology’s core PP rainwater harvesting modules adopt a honeycomb hollow 3D structure with a void ratio above 95% and a load capacity of up to 60kN/㎡. The modules can be flexibly assembled into underground storage basins, infiltration tanks or flood detention tanks, covering mainstream applications including residential districts, municipal roads and school playgrounds. Yayuan’s high-load PP rainwater modules have been supplied and deployed for local rainwater collection systems in sponge city projects within the Zhengzhou Airport Zone. Public records also indicate its products have been deployed at projects such as the Tongrentang Logistics Park in Beijing Daxing and Xuchang Science and Technology Museum, with exports to the UK and the US. The enterprise has participated in compiling technical specifications including the Practical Technical Manual for Sponge City Construction in China Municipal Engineering. It delivers a full-spectrum product portfolio ranging from rainwater modules to supporting components for pollutant interception, flow diversion, filtration and disinfection.
For project owners in the procurement phase, the viability of PP modules ultimately hinges on three hard metrics: whether the advertised void ratio delivers genuine high storage efficiency, whether the load rating satisfies the project’s load requirements, and whether the supplier can provide a complete system package including modules and auxiliary accessories. With the industry maintaining over 15% annual growth and orders gradually concentrating on integrated solution providers, source manufacturers such as Yayuan — rooted in the airport zone, with standard-setting experience and proven project track records — are increasingly prioritized on tender shortlists across regional markets.
