Each year,many Chinese cities are inundated and this results in substantial losses and environmental challenges to the state and residents.The subsequent reactions largely focus on the inefficiencies of the cities sewer systems,which is depicted as the conscience of the city in Victor Hugos 1862 novel "Les Miserables".This idea to blame the inefficient storm water management is exploited by many critics in China.However,let alone the real implications in Hugos description of Paris sewer system in his days,to blame inundation on the sewer system and advocate for the construction of a Paris-style sewer is poles apart from addressing the problem of city inundation.