Led by the water department, a 24/7 cleaning and maintenance system has been built in Qidong since May to protect Yangtze River embankments.

As a county-level city in Nantong, Qidong is located at the intersection of the Yangtze River, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. The government had implemented projects for greening the river embankment, renovating sluice gates and other measures, bringing a new look to the embankments in just two years.

Included in the government's agenda was working out how to consolidate the results of previous renovation and restoration work. In May, Qidong water department outsourced the levee cleaning project through open tender and had the 24/7 cleaning and maintenance system established.

After continuous operation of supporting machinery such as excavators, cranes and sprinklers, more than 600 tons of various types of garbage were removed from the embankments.

A team of 20 cleaners has been working on and patrolling eight river dykes every day since June to guarantee efficient drainage of sluices during the current rainy season.