Following the principle set for flood control that ��dam the rivers at the upper reaches, dyke the low lands at the middles, and dredge the outlets at the lowers��, measures have been taken to increase the ability of flood control and drainage, that reservoirs and dikes are built in a comprehensive way for concurrent exercise of flood water storage and drainage.

The last 50 yeas have seen not only the construction of a large number of flood control and water storage projects such as Xinfengjiang, Hedi, Gaozhou and Feilaixia Projects, but also the construction and reinforcement of sluices and dykes. As a result, a system of seashore dykes and river levees have been preliminarily formed, enabling Guangdong to prevent floods and storm surges in a certain degree. The areas with 23.22 million residents and 17.06 million mu of farmland are being protected by the system, where used to be liable to waterlogging and drought.

The Beijiang River Levee, being a major project in China and the largest one in Guangdong, has been under constant reinforcement since 1950. Particularly since 1983, the total embankment with 63 km in length has been reinforced thoroughly. Consequently, its flood prevention standard has been increased from 20 years return period to 100, which can even be increased to 200 while cooperating with Feilaixia Key Structure. Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta are safely protected from floods by it, where tens of millions of people are inhabited and hundreds of billion yuan are produced.

Numerous irrigation and drainage projects have also been built, enabling the areas in the Pearl River Delta to get rid of waterlogging, even in a lasting 24 hours of rainstorm of 20 years return period. Floods are generally under control by organic cooperation of these projects and pumping facilities.