South Korea’s smart streets spray themselves clean and drop temperatures by 68 degrees

South Korea’s self-cleaning streets are transforming urban cleanliness and climate control, and these smart streets doing it with an elegant, automated twist.

Across cities like Seoul and Daegu, roads are equipped with discreet sprinkler systems that keep surfaces clean without human intervention.

What might look like simple water spraying is actually a finely tuned system activated at red lights or low-traffic hours.

And it’s not just about aesthetics either, as these self-cleaning streets help with heat relief, sustainability, and public health.

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Self-cleaning streets help to manage stormwater runoff

Originally piloted in 2007 in a small part of Seoul, this innovative system has since expanded to several urban areas, becoming one of the country’s standout technological achievements.

The sprinklers are cleverly built into lane dividers and curbs, releasing gentle jets of water that clear away fine dust, tire particles, and other road debris.

These jets use recycled rainwater stored in underground tanks, collected from streets, rooftops, and sidewalks, which is a clever example of South Korea’s integrated urban planning.

Not only does this make city maintenance more eco-friendly, but it also helps manage stormwater runoff in flood-prone areas, removing the need for flood-proof garages.

South Korea’s traditional street-cleaning trucks haven’t been left behind either.

These vehicles feature cutting-edge tech like high-pressure nozzles precisely aimed at the road surface, ensuring sidewalks and pedestrians stay dry.

Some are equipped with rotating curtain bars and magnetic shields to further control the water spray, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

These smart streets are part of a broader national strategy to combine cleanliness with sustainability and advanced automation.

These smart streets are vital in summer

The cooling effects of these self-cleaning streets are impressive.

A seven-minute spray session can reduce asphalt temperatures by as much as 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with the surrounding air cooling by 5 to 7 degrees.

In cities where summer road temperatures can exceed 140°F, this cooling provides much-needed relief for residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with health issues.

This means people living in these cities don’t have to rely on viral hacks to cool down their car.

Local governments are also installing misting shelters, shaded rest areas, and trees in coordination with the street systems to build cooler, more livable neighborhoods.

By rethinking how rainwater is collected and reused, South Korea has turned a mundane maintenance task into a high-tech solution for cleaner, cooler, and more sustainable cities.

And as global temperatures continue to rise, its smart street approach may become a model for the world.The post South Korea’s smart streets spray themselves clean and drop temperatures by 68 degrees appeared first on Supercar Blondie.