Wang Runmei, a deputy of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and head of the Third Waterways Group at the Taiyuan Institute for Municipal Road and Drainage Protection, is actively working on urban infrastructure improvements. Together with her colleagues, she carries out daily stormwater drainage maintenance in an old neighborhood of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. The transformation of the district’s rainwater and wastewater drainage system is still incomplete. Currently, only one underground drainage pipeline system is in operation, which frequently overflows during flood seasons.

Wang Runmei, NPC Deputy: “Discharging both household and stormwater into a single well reduces the efficiency of the entire system. I will definitely look into this issue, and we will carry out repairs here as soon as possible.”

During the “Two Sessions” in 2024, Wang Runmei proposed a plan to support the reconstruction of stormwater drainage systems, which was approved by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. In July last year, Shanxi Province released a special reconstruction plan, aiming for completion by the end of next year.

“I have visited many settlements and observed that in older neighborhoods, rainwater and wastewater diversion projects have significantly improved conditions during the flood season,” said Wang Runmei.

Taiyuan is currently undergoing a digital transformation of its municipal infrastructure. In 2024, the city launched a flood monitoring system based on data from over 700 ground-based monitoring points. Wang Runmei recognizes the importance of improving tools and equipment. “I hope,” she says, “that the government will increase its support for municipal facilities, ensuring a more reliable and efficient drainage system.”

At the 2025 “Two Sessions,” the deputy proposed further development of infrastructure systems and equipment, advocating for the implementation of smart solutions in Taiyuan’s municipal services.