New Taipei City is stepping up its flood-control works — good news for residents of Xinzhuang, who have long been troubled by standing water.

• Xinzhuang sits on low-lying terrain, and the city government has been building three Talaokeng pumping stations in succession; the third is scheduled for completion in July next year.
• Two detention basins will be built in the Wenzaizun land readjustment zone, capable of holding an additional 180,000 tonnes of rainwater.
• The recently completed second Talaokeng pumping station has been fitted with automation and XR remote operation, allowing managers to switch the pump units on and off remotely.
• The central government is fully subsidising the automation system while the city government pays for the XR system, forming a model of "central funding, local implementation."
• Blue, green and white elected representatives appeared together at the site, a rare instance of cross-party cooperation on flood-control issues.

Outlook: once the three pumping stations and the detention basins operate in tandem from July next year, flooding in Xinzhuang is expected to improve markedly.