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
