In recent years, Huai'an City has prioritized establishing a flood-free and waterlogging-free urban environment as its significant livelihood initiative, expediting efforts in flood mitigation and drainage projects such as river management, pump station construction, and addressing waterlogging-prone areas. These measures have enhanced flood control and drainage capabilities systematically. Huai'an has thus achieved notable progress in infrastructure upgrades and ensured readiness and functionality during critical times.

During 2024–2025, Huai'an has invested RMB 1.682 billion in implementing 35 "flood-free and waterlogging-free" urban engineering projects, all of which have been equipped with drainage capabilities and have started demonstrating benefits ahead of this year's primary flood season. However, transforming the blueprint into reality is not a simple task. To ensure the projects' completion before the flood season, the builders have engaged in a relentless race against time.

For example, the Municipal Water Resources Bureau led the construction of 15 projects, including the expansion of the Shanyang Pumping Station in the Economic Development Zone and the construction of the Jing'er Road Pumping Station in Huai'an District. During the implementation of the Shanyang Pumping Station Expansion Project in the Economic Development Zone, the most complex and hazardous challenge encountered was the construction of road-crossing pipe jacking. This was due to the dense distribution of high-voltage cables, communication optic cables, gas pipelines, tap water pipes, etc., beneath Xiangyu Avenue, along with ground-level rail transit systems that imposed stringent settlement requirements. When relocating and avoiding these networks, any slight negligence could result in consequences such as water or power outages, aptly described as "performing surgery on blood vessels." After 180 days and nights of dedicated efforts by the construction team, the main structure of the Shanyang Pumping Station Expansion Project in the Economic Development Zone was completed by the end of June last year, enhancing the area's flood drainage standard to withstand a once-in-30-year event.