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Introduction

Rapid urbanizations and its consequent increase in impervious surfaces and changes in land
use generally resulted in problem of flooding and heavy pollution of urban water system and
other receiving waters. Urban drainage practice and control philosophy has been based on
solving localized floods by transferring excessive flows into the drainage systems downstream.
The consequence of removing the storm water from the land surface so quickly is to increase
volumes and peak discharge, overloading of the drainage system. This causes severe flooding
to downstream areas and a threat to the ecosystem and environment. Since 2001, Urban Storm
water Management Manual for Malaysia (MASMA) was introduced by Drainage Irrigation
Department of Malaysia and approved by the Cabinet for the application to replace the earlier
manual for storm water management in urban areas.

Several recommendations are proposed to enhance MASMA application. The size of

urban areas has increased to accommodate the increase un urban population and activities that
power the economic engine for country’s development. These developments have brought
about several positive results such economic improvement and alleviation of poverty.
Inadequate controlled development had significant adverse impact on the environment, such as
flash flooding, erosion, mudflow and sedimentations, slope failure, water pollution and
ecological damage, increased floatable and debris flow and depleting water resources. These
negative impacts are in most cases brought bout by inadequate handling of storm water
management during planning, development and maintenance resulting in much hardship to the
urban community in the form of traffic jams, property damage, inconveniences and loss of
income, productivity and sometimes live.

To address the problems, Drainage and Irrigation Department of Malaysia introduced

a new manual, MASMA to replace the earlier guideline Urban Drainage Design and Standard
and Procedures for Peninsular Malaysia Published in 1975. The new manual, MASMA utilized
the concept of urban storm water management control at source while the earlier drainage
manual based on rapid disposal. MASMA introduces a comprehensive, broad and flexible
approaches, strategies and guidelines for the current and future urban storm water management
which covers management of quality and quality for environmental enhancement and
sustainable development. MASMA was approved by the Cabinet for application in storm water
management throughout Malaysia from first of January 2001.
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The function of the drainage is to collect water from the carriage and surrounding areas
and lead it to an exit point where it can be safety discharged. The drainage needs o have
sufficient capacity to collect all rainwater from the road carriageway and dispose of it quickly
and in a controlled manner to minimize damage. Drainage can be constructed in three forms
either V-shaped, rectangular or as a trapezoid. The V-shape is a standard shape for ditches
constructed by a motor-grader. It can be easily maintained by heavy equipment. However, it
carries a lower capacity than another cross-section shape. This shape is often used in urban
areas where there is limited space for the drainage. When using labor-based work methods, it
is possible to construct a trapezoid shaped side drain. This shape carries a high flow capacity
and by carefully selecting the right gradients for its side slopes, will resist erosion.

Storm Water Management Planning Approach

The primary goal of the storm water management plan is to facilitate coordinated management
of storm water within each development to:

 Maximize ecological sustainability

 Mitigate development impacts
 Minimize the potential for the future impacts
 Enhance water sensitive urban design principles
 Maximize social and economic benefits using sound storm water management practices
 Enhance aesthetic and ecological values into stormwater management infrastructure
 Provide opportunity for the community to gain an appreciation of water as essential
element of the urban environment.

Method of Determine Design Discharge

All drainage systems will be designed to accommodate the flow from the frequent storm or the
flood of record, whichever is greater. The Rational Formula for computing stormwater runoff
is to be used for hydraulic design of facilities serving a drainage area less than 130 acres. For
drainage acres larger than 130 acres. The runoff is to be calculated using the Soil Conservation
Services Unit Hydrograph Method. Based on our project we have decided that we used the
Rational Formula for the design of the stormwater flow.
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Rational Method

(a) Rational Formula

The Rational Formula is one of the most frequency used urban hydrology methods in Malaysia
for computing stormwater flows from rainfall, it gives satisfactory results for small catchments
up to 80 hectares only. The rational formula is as follows:

Q = (C x yIt x A) / 360

Where,

Q = Peak flow, (m3/s)

C = Runoff Coefficient

y
It = Average Rainfall Intensity (mm/hr)

A = Drainage Area (ha)

All runoff calculation that we used shall be based upon a fully developed watershed and
existing zoning. The rainfall intensity value. 1 is the intensity for a duration equal to the time
of concentration (tc).

(b) Assumption

Assumption that we used in the Rational Method is as follows:

 The peak flow occurs when the entire catchment is contributing to the flow.
 The rainfall intensity is the same over the entire catchment area
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 The rainfall intensity is uniform over time duration equal to the time of concentration,
tc
 The ARI of the computed peak flow is the same as that of the rainfall intensity (based
on our project, 2-year ARI rainfall intensity will produce 2-year ARI peak flow.

(c) Procedure
1. Select design ARI
 Design ARI was selected for both minor and major drainage systems.

2. Divide sub-catchment
 We divide sub-catchment into segments of homogenous land use or surface slope

3. Estimate time of concentration

 Overland flow time was estimated
 Flow time for all other flow components within the sub-catchments such as curb
gutters, pipe and channel were estimated.

4. Determine average rainfall intensity, ylt

 ylt design ARI of y years was calculated and duration t equal to the time of
concentration, from IDF data for area of interest.

5. Estimate runoff coefficient

 C values for each segment was estimated if there are different land covers

6. Calculate average runoff coefficient

7. Calculate the peak flow rate of Qy for the sub-catchment

 Peak flow rate based on equation of Qy calculated.

Calculation of Drainage

(a) Time of Concentration

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 Typically, small catchments (<50km2) are more likely to have constant intensity
over entire area, and hence travel time is relatively short (tc < 20min).

tc = t0 + tf

Where,

t0 = overland flow time (inlet time) tf = channel flow time

(b) Inlet Time t0

 In urban drainage, inlet time is primarily roof drainage flow time which is very
small and considerably uncertain. Hence, a minimum of 5min may be adopted.

107nL1/ 3
t0 
S
Where,

t0 = sheet flow time (min) L = sheet flow length (m)

n = Manning’s coefficient S = surface slope (%)

(c) Channel Flow Time tf

 Generally, V > 0.6m/s to avoid water ponding

L
tf 
V
Where,

tf = channel flow time L = channel length V = assumed velocity

(d) Natural Catchment, tc

Fc L
tc 
A1/10 S 1/ 5
Where,
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tc = time of concentration (min)

L = catchment length (from outlet to upstream divide) (km)

Fc = conversion factor = 58.5

S = slope of stream flow path (m/km)

A = catchment area (km2)

(e) Rainfall Intensity

ln I = a + b ln t + c (ln t)2 + d (ln t)3

Where,

t = tc a,b,c,d are constants obtained from Appendix 13.A