Improving Flood Prevention in Qianjin! Kaohsiung City Upgrades Tidal Barriers and Adds Pumping Stations Ahead of Next Flood Season

To improve persistent flooding issues in the low-lying areas of Qianjin District, Kaohsiung—specifically between Zhongzheng 4th Road and Wufu 3rd Road—the city’s Water Resources Bureau continues to advance flood prevention projects. In addition to completing the 'Minsheng Interception Station Gate Equipment Upgrade Project,' which has effectively reduced seawater backflow and standing water, the bureau has secured an additional central government grant of NT$19.95 million to construct two new pumping stations alongside the Ai River. By upgrading tidal control facilities and enhancing pumping capacity, the overall flood defense system in Qianjin District will be strengthened.

According to the Water Resources Bureau, areas such as Guangfu 2nd and 3rd Streets in Qianjin District are naturally low-lying and located within a tidal influence zone. During typhoons or spring tides, they rely on tidal gates to prevent seawater intrusion. However, the sluice gates at the Minsheng Interception Station and surrounding tidal barriers have been in operation for 39 years. Prolonged exposure to saltwater corrosion has led to equipment aging and reduced watertight integrity, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rains coinciding with high tides.

To resolve these issues, the bureau obtained a NT$7.8 million grant from the Central Land Management Agency to carry out gate replacement work, which was completed in January this year. The upgraded tidal gates now offer significantly improved watertight performance. Since completion, the system has successfully withstood multiple heavy rain events and the astronomical high tide in early July, effectively minimizing seawater backflow and flooding in nearby low-lying streets. Additionally, obsolete gates at the downstream end of the Minsheng Drainage Channel near the Ai River—no longer needed—have been removed, balancing flood safety with riverside landscape quality.

To further enhance drainage efficiency, the bureau secured another NT$19.95 million in central funding to build two new pumping stations beside the Ai River, equipped with four pumping units. These will mechanically accelerate the removal of accumulated rainwater from low-lying areas. Construction is scheduled to begin in September this year, with completion targeted before the next flood season in 2025.

Once operational, the new pumping stations will work in tandem with existing tidal gates to form a more comprehensive flood control and drainage system. This integration will effectively reduce the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and high tides, continuously strengthening Qianjin District’s disaster resilience and providing residents with a safer, more secure living environment.