On the morning of April 29, 2024, the construction of the Lifan Reservoir heightening and expansion project in Lin'an District, Hangzhou officially kicked off. This reservoir, which was built in 1966, underwent a heightening and expansion in 1993, and is now undergoing its second major renovation. The dam will be raised from 72.5 meters to 107.5 meters, and the total storage capacity will achieve a qualitative leap, increasing from 20.98 million cubic meters to 59.81 million cubic meters.

The renovation not only involves the heightening of the dam, but also includes the construction of new auxiliary dams, water release buildings and other core projects, as well as the updating and renovation of ancillary projects such as flood discharge power tunnels and dam safety monitoring systems. The entire project, with an estimated investment of 2.19 billion yuan, aims to adjust the reservoir's functions to mainly flood control and water supply, while also integrating multiple functions such as irrigation, power generation and improving the water ecological environment.

Lifan Reservoir is located in Taihuyuan Town, Lin'an District. As the backbone flood control project in the Dongtiao River Basin, its importance is self-evident. The rainwater collection area above the reservoir dam site reaches 83 square kilometers, making it one of the provincial heavy rain centers. Currently, the flood control capabilities of the established reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Dongtiao River Basin are still insufficient, posing a threat to the flood control safety of the urban area of Hangzhou downstream and even the plains east of Hangjiahu. In addition, as Lin'an has accelerated its integration into the Hangzhou metropolitan area after being withdrawn from the city and established as a district, Lin'an District's existing water supply capacity can no longer meet the future demand for urban and rural production water.

Tang Wenzhuo, Party Secretary and Director of the Lin'an District Water Conservancy and Hydropower Bureau, said that after the project is completed, its flood control and water supply capabilities will be equivalent to rebuilding three Xianlin reservoirs. Through joint dispatching with the Qingshan Reservoir, the flood control pressure on the Dongtiao River Basin will be effectively reduced and the flood control safety of important areas such as the Zhijiang Laboratory and the West City Science and Technology Innovation Corridor will be ensured. At the same time, the flood control standard in Lin'an City will also be raised from a once-in-20-year flood to a once-in-50-year flood, providing a more solid guarantee for the life safety of 280,000 people. In addition, the project will also meet the water supply needs of the surrounding 525,000 people and ensure the irrigation needs of 11,000 acres of farmland downstream, comprehensively improving the downstream flood prevention and disaster reduction capabilities, regional water resources security capabilities, and water ecological environment protection capabilities.Editor/Cheng Liting