ii Urban Stormwater Management Manual

FOREWORD
Attitudes to the environment in Malaysia are changing. Increasingly the community and the Government are expecting a
greater understanding and commitment to environmental protection as part of Malaysias plan to reach developed nation
status by 2020.
Urban development in many developed nations has been found to have had an adverse impact on the environment through
excessive flows, poor water quality, removal of riparian vegetation and the destruction of aquatic habitats leading to the
degradation of rivers, lakes and coastal waters. To overcome such adverse impacts it has been necessary to broaden the
practice of stormwater management to encompass the balanced consideration of flooding, water quality, aquatic habitats,
riparian vegetation, recreation, aesthetic and economic issues.
The Stormwater Management Manual has been commissioned by DID to replace the first manual in view of rapid
urbanisation. It is more comprehensive, taking into consideration the present problems facing by the nation such as flash
flood, river pollution, soil erosion, development in the highlands and lowlands and so on. While the first drainage manual
utilises the concept of rapid disposal, this current manual utilises the concept of stormwater management control at source.
Latest development based on control at source approach has also been documented. This manual has also been reviewed
by various agencies, organizations and foreign experts. Where applicable, their views are taken into consideration in
preparing the final document.
This Manual identifies a new direction for stormwater management in urban areas in Malaysia. It supersedes the earlier
guidelines entitled Urban Drainage Design Standards for Peninsular Malaysia , Planning and Design Procedure No. 1
published by DID in 1975.
The Manual has been prepared through the co-operative efforts of a number of organisations and individuals. All are firmly
of the view that stormwater needs to be viewed as an asset and as a valuable resource rather than as a nuisance to be
disposed of as quickly as possible. The organisations and individuals involved in the production of this Manual are to be
congratulated.







(Dato Ir. Hj. Keizrul Abdullah)
Director General
Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia.



iii Urban Stormwater Management Manual
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This manual is the output of a study commissioned by the DID to Jurutera Perunding Zaaba Sdn. Bhd.
Stormwater management within a catchment is often undertaken by a number of organisations. Likewise, this Manual has
been prepared through the co-operative efforts of a number of organisations and individuals, such as Implementation and
Coordination Unit, Prime Ministers Department, Putrajaya Corporation, Public Works Department, Town and Country
Planning Department, Housing and Local Government, Department of Environment, Board of Water Management Selangor,
National Hydraulic Research Institue of Malaysia, Ipoh City Council, Johore Bahru City Council, Kuala Lumpur City Council,
Humid Tropic Centre, The Institution of Engineers Malaysia, Board of Engineers Malaysia, Association of Consulting Engineer
Malaysia, Housing Developers Association, Architect Association Malaysia, Master Builders Association, University of Science
Malaysia and others, too many to list.
The efforts of those involved in preparing this manual are gratefully acknowledged.