Kaohsiung District Secures $16.65 Million for Emergency Flood Control Projects

Kaohsiung's Gangshan District is set to receive a significant boost in its flood control infrastructure with the approval of 16.65 million NT dollars for emergency engineering projects. The funding, secured with the assistance of legislator Chiu Chih-wei, will target critical areas in the Wujiaowei drainage and the Jiazhi drainage pump station, both of which have been severely impacted by recent heavy rainfall.

“

The Jiazhi small drainage pump station lacks a trash removal machine, and large amounts of garbage and leaves are carried by the floodwaters. Heavy machinery must be present at the pump station at all times to clear large debris, which is dangerous and affects the pumping efficiency.

The district, particularly the Jiazhi and Tantou areas, has been identified as a flood-prone zone. Heavy rains from Typhoon Mikala in June exacerbated existing issues, leading to widespread inundation. To combat this, the Public Works Bureau proposed urgent measures, including the construction of new retaining walls along the Wujiaowei drainage and the installation of a trash removal mechanism at the Jiazhi drainage pump station.

Construction is scheduled to commence in October and is expected to take four to five months to complete. The aim is to have the projects finished before the next major rainy season, thereby mitigating future flood damage to factories and farmland in the affected areas. Legislator Chiu Chih-wei emphasized the necessity of the trash removal system at the Jiazhi pump station, noting that its absence requires heavy machinery to clear debris, posing safety risks and hindering pumping efficiency.

“

The Wujiaowei drainage emergency project will add 135 meters of new retaining wall to fill the gap in the embankment, which can effectively protect factories and farmland along the line.

Beyond these immediate measures, a comprehensive flood control plan for the Tantou and Jiazhi areas is also underway. This larger initiative involves seven major engineering projects, including the construction of three detention ponds with a combined capacity of 440,000 tons, the installation of culverts, and the expansion of the Tantou pump station. The estimated cost for this extensive project is 1.3 billion NT dollars, with initial funding for preliminary studies already approved by the Water Resources Agency. Chiu pledged his full support to secure the necessary funds for these long-term solutions.

“

Jiazhi and Tantou have always received funding for flood control, but a comprehensive drainage improvement plan is still lacking. The 'Comprehensive Improvement Plan for Rivers and Drainage Managed by Counties and Cities in Response to Climate Change' implemented by the Water Resources Agency starting this year will conduct overall planning and consideration of drainage engineering in water areas.