Tainan has largely stopped the seawater flooding that used to hit streets along the Anping Canal on clear days, good news for residents and shop owners in the area.

• Each year's highest tides used to push seawater back up drains and flood roads even in dry weather.
• The city installed 19 one-way flap valves on canal drain outlets to block seawater from flowing back into town.
• Three pump wells and nine pumps now clear water from low spots fast, and a sidewalk in the Star Diamond district was raised.
• July and August brought unusually high tides, but Anping Road stayed dry and traffic ran normally.

Outlook: The project is 80% done and the city plans more flood work along the canal.