Tainan Considers Higher Flood Standards for Sanye River; Park Detention Basin to Bid in September

Tainan city officials are reviewing plans to enhance flood protection standards for the Sanye River after intense rainfall on June 26 caused significant flooding in the Rende and Yongkang districts. The downpour, which saw 267 millimeters of rain in six hours, overwhelmed the river's existing capacity, leading to inundation of homes, factories, and businesses.

Currently, the Sanye River's protection standard is based on a 10-year flood frequency. The Water Resources Bureau is collaborating with the Water Resources Agency to develop proposals for improving this standard. In Yongkang District, the Exploration Park is set to receive a dry detention basin, designed to provide recreational space during dry periods and manage floodwaters during heavy rains or typhoons. This project is scheduled for bidding in September.

Local residents have experienced the impact of the flooding firsthand. Yongkang District's Yongkang Village experienced water levels reaching 30 centimeters in the Exploration Park and surrounding roads. Village chief Wei Wanshun, who has been monitoring the situation, noted that water remained in the park as of June 28, highlighting the urgent need for these infrastructure improvements. He expressed hope for the project's swift completion to address the long-standing flooding issues in the area.

Further flood control measures are also underway. The runoff diversion project for Exploration Park is in its detailed design phase, with adjacent Yongkang Public Children's Park 4-5's project in basic design. Additionally, the Xiyuan detention basin demonstrated its effectiveness during the recent heavy rainfall, and its overall environmental improvement project is expected to be completed by the end of August.