Part of the sluices in Shanghai have been opened for flood discharge in the river basin and the inspection of river and sea embankments has been strengthened

  China-Singapore Online, July 14th (Reporter Yin Liqin) The reporter learned from the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters and the Municipal Water Affairs Bureau that at present, the water level in Shanghai is within a safe and controlled range. In order to effectively alleviate the rising pressure of the Taihu flood, Shanghai has opened the Yunxi sluice and the Dianxi sluice to discharge the watershed. At the same time, the sluices along the Huangpu River have been opened to accept the tide, and the sluices along the Yangtze River and Hangzhou Bay have been fully drained to help the Taihu flood discharge.

Passing ships passed the Zhazaobang sluice in order. Photo by Yin Liqin

Passing ships passed the Zhazaobang sluice in order. Photo by Yin Liqin

  Affected by the Meiyu River in Jiangnan, Taihu Lake formed the first flood of this year on June 28. At present, the water level of Taihu Lake is 4.45 meters. Although the water level has not yet reached the guaranteed water level of 4.65 meters, it has exceeded the warning water level of 3.8 meters by 0.65 meters, which is the fifth highest water level in Taihu Lake since 1954 (4.65 meters in 1954 and 4.81 meters in 1991. (4.97 meters in 1999, 4.87 meters in 2016). It is predicted that the water level of Taihu Lake may exceed the guaranteed water level of 4.65 meters in the next few days.

The staff inspected the sluice of Xizao Bangxi. Photo by Yin Liqin

The staff inspected the sluice of Xizao Bangxi. Photo by Yin Liqin

  According to statistics, from July 9 to 12, the four sluices along the Huangpu River have operated 29 sluice gates for a total of 160 hours, and the total amount of flood discharge and tide is 50.84 million cubic meters. However, from July 7 to 12:00 today, only the Zhazaobang West Gate and the Dianpu River West Gate have opened floods for 140 hours, with a cumulative discharge of about 50 million cubic meters. At the same time when the floodgates were opened, although there were no rivers above the warning water level in Shanghai, the inspection of rivers and embankments had been strengthened. (Finish)