DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WORK FOR HIGH DENSITY AREA

Drainage Improvement Work For High Density Development: Case Study of Taman Mangga, Taman Pinang, Taman Sentul and Taman Sentul Jaya 

 LAU TZE LIANG, Research Associate, River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia 

 AMINUDDIN AB. GHANI, Deputy Director, REDAC, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia 

 NOR AZAZI ZAKARIA, Director, REDAC, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

 ROZI ABDULLAH, Research Associate, REDAC, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia 

 ABSTRACT 

Taman Pinang, Taman Mangga, Taman Sentul and Taman Sentul Jaya are situated in district of Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang. These high density residential areas are subjected to frequent flood whenever it rains heavily due to its low lying ground platform and the areas are affected by the tidal influence. The flood woes in the study area have been a longstanding issue since 1990’s. Frequent floods have caused extensive damage and inconvenience to the community. Internal drainage inventory has been carried out for the existing drainage system. It was found that the existing drains are in poor conditions and has insufficient capacity to cater for increased stormwater discharge. For alleviating flood woes in these areas, flood mitigation and drainage improvement measures have been formulated which include the enlargement of internal drain, provision of stormwater storage facilities, construction of pumping stations and installation of backflow prevention gates. Keywords: Flooding; flood mitigation; drainage improvement; storage facility; pumping. 

 1 Introduction 

 The study area consists of four high-density residential areas, Taman Pinang, Taman Mangga, Taman Sentul and Taman Sentul Jaya, situated in district of Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang as shown in Figure 1. This area is built up with high density housing estates. This area is frequently flooded whenever it rains heavily for duration more than 1 hour. The flooding problems in the study area are caused by the inadequacy of existing drainage system and tidal effect. Moreover, the level of construction platform is lower than the desirable platform levels. Frequent floods have caused extensive damage and inconvenience to the community. The Government and the municipal council, Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP), have long been conscious of the above actual situation, and the subsequent immediate need for establishment of proper drainage system in the Municipality. River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), University Science Malaysia, has been appointed by MPSP to carried out feasibility study and detailed design for this area. 

Conclusion 

 Taman Mangga, Taman Pinang, Taman Sentul and Taman Sentul Jaya are similar to other residential estates in Lembah Sungai Rambai, Seberang Perai Tengah, which are located in low-lying flat area and subjected to flooding. Flooding is a long-standing issue in these high density development areas and the pumping solution is the most acceptable and favourable solution here. Even though the conventional storm drainage approach which adopt the rapid disposal, localised, reactive and monofunctional drainage concepts solution has encounted some shortcomings, the drainage enlargement and pumping has relief the stress of flooding in the study area. To alleviate the flood problems throughoutly, the comprehensive and total catchment management strategies are essential. Acknowledgment The authors would like to express sincere gratitude to Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai for granting this contract research for this project. The authors also would like to thank Mr. Shanker Kumar Sinnankaudan, Mr. Paker Mohamad and all REDAC’s staff for their involvement in this project. 

 References 

 1. JPS (1974), D.I.D Planning and Design Procedure No. 1 “Urban Drainage Design Standards and Criteria for Peninsular Malaysia. 

 2. JPS (1994), Feasibility Study And Detailed Design On River System Of Sg Perai, Sg Juru And Sg Jejawi-Sg Tengah. 

 3. Kwong Wah Yit Poh, 6 September 1999. 

 4. MPSP (2001), Kajian Kebolehlaksanaan Dan Rekabentuk Terperinci Tebatan Banjir Dan Saliran Taman Sentul, Taman Sentul Jaya, Taman Pinang Dan Taman Mangga, Juru, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang. 

 5. RedValve (2004), http://www.redvalve.com