In 2025, Huai'an City is prioritizing 53 water conservancy projects across three categories—livelihood, industry, and well-being—comprising 13 subcategories. These include 22 ongoing projects and 31 new initiatives, with an annual investment target of RMB 5.807 billion. As of the end of March, RMB 838 million had been invested in water conservancy projects.

First, the city has sustained a high-level commitment.  Since 2011, annual investment in water conservancy has consistently exceeded RMB 3 billion for 14 consecutive years. In 2023, it surpassed the milestone of RMB 4 billion for the first time, followed by a record high of over RMB 7 billion in 2024. Government funding approvals surged to RMB 7.691 billion in 2024, up 66.91% from RMB 4.608 billion in 2023, marking a staggering 243.50% increase from RMB 2.239 billion in 2022. Efforts to secure additional funding will continue in 2025.

Second, the city has strengthened project planning. Preparatory research for water conservancy in the 15th Five-Year Plan period has begun ahead of schedule, and the investment in planned water conservancy projects is expected to reach RMB 76.8 billion—nearly triple the total during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Key plans, including the Huai'an City Urban Flood Control and Drainage Plan, Huai'an City Modern Water Network Development Plan, and Huai'an City Water Infrastructure Spatial Layout Plan, have been approved by the municipal government, reinforcing long-term water conservancy planning frameworks.

Third, the city has been accelerating project implementation. The Huaihe River Seaward Waterway Phase II Project—the largest single flood control investment in the history of Huaihe River governance—broke ground on July 30, 2022. Through cross-departmental collaboration, the project made simultaneous progress in approval acquisition and preliminary design. The commencement of its construction on July 30, after the acquisition of approval on July 22, demonstrates the "Huai'an Speed." With a seven-year timeline, over 60% of the project's investment had been completed by March this year. Other milestones include the full completion of the Hongze Lake Ring Road, alongside the launch of several major projects, such as the recent construction of flood retention areas around Hongze Lake and the levee reinforcement project for the North Jiangsu Irrigation Main Canal.