Inadequate Drainage Design

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 101 views

Introduction

The drainage system plays a crucial role in reducing and/or excessive water from an area or land, allowing for optimal land utilization. However, the occurrence of puddles of rainwater in the Jalan Bunga Cempaka area, Medan Selayang District, Medan City, has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the existing drainage system. This study aims to evaluate the condition of the drainage system in the area and determine whether the existing channel is capable of handling flood discharge.

Methodology

The data collection in this study includes primary data consisting of data on existing drainage channel conditions and flow, as well as secondary data which includes the maximum daily rainfall data from three BMKG stations and the General Map of the Study Area. The observation point of the rain gauge was determined using the Thiessen polygon method, which produced an observation point including the BMKG Helvetia station. The Pearson type III log method is used in this study, and the intensity of rainfall is calculated using the mononobe formula for the 5-year return period, which produces 112,619 mm/hour.

Evaluation Results

The evaluation results from the flood discharge for the 5-year return period using the rational method indicate the value of QR1 = 1,748 m³/sec and QR2 = 1,541 m³/sec. Calculation of the existing channel capacity produces QS1 value = 1,458 m³/sec and QS2 = 1,255 m³/sec. By comparing the existing channel capacity with the planned discharge, it appears that the existing channel cannot accommodate the planned flood discharge, which causes water to overflow from the channel and inundate the surrounding area.

Problem Analysis

The condition of the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka is inadequate to deal with extreme rainfall. Several factors that influence this include:

Inadequate Drainage Design

Drainage channels may not be designed to accommodate high volumes of water during heavy rain. Inadequate channel size can cause blockages and inundation.

Growth of Urbanization

Rapid urbanization can cause changes in land use that impacts the ability of the soil to absorb water. New infrastructure and settlement development often reduces water catchment areas.

Changes in Rainfall Patterns

With climate change, rainfall patterns in an area can be unexpected. Increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme rain is a challenge for the existing drainage system.

Proposed Solutions

To overcome this problem, one step that needs to be taken is to redesign the drainage system. Some steps that can be taken include:

Increasing Channel Capacity

Increasing drainage channel size in order to accommodate larger flood discharge.

Addition of Water Reservoir Structure

Build a reservoir or water catchment pond to help reduce the flow directly to the drainage channel.

Better Spatial Planning

Integrate a drainage system in urban spatial plans that pay attention to environmental aspects and water catchment.

Socialization to the Community

Involving the community in managing drainage channels and maintaining the cleanliness of channels so as not to be blocked.

Conclusion

Evaluation of the drainage channel system in the area of Jalan Bunga Cempaka, Medan Selayang District, revealed that the current channel capacity is inadequate to handle the planned flood discharge. With the increasing risk of inundation due to heavy rain, immediate action is needed to redesign the drainage system to be effective and efficient in preventing flooding, as well as improving the quality of the environment of the people in the region.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Redesign the drainage system to increase channel capacity and accommodate larger flood discharge.
Build a reservoir or water catchment pond to help reduce the flow directly to the drainage channel.
Integrate a drainage system in urban spatial plans that pay attention to environmental aspects and water catchment.
Involve the community in managing drainage channels and maintaining the cleanliness of channels so as not to be blocked.

By implementing these recommendations, the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka can be improved to prevent flooding and improve the quality of the environment of the people in the region.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study only focuses on the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka and does not consider other factors that may contribute to flooding.
The study uses a simplified model to calculate flood discharge and does not take into account other factors that may affect flood behavior.
The study does not consider the social and economic impacts of flooding on the community.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Developing a more comprehensive model to calculate flood discharge and take into account other factors that may affect flood behavior.
Considering the social and economic impacts of flooding on the community.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the redesigned drainage system in preventing flooding.

By addressing these limitations and future research directions, the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka can be improved to prevent flooding and improve the quality of the environment of the people in the region.

Q: What is the main problem with the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka?

A: The main problem with the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka is that it is inadequate to handle extreme rainfall, causing water to overflow from the channel and inundate the surrounding area.

Q: What are the factors that contribute to the inadequacy of the drainage system?

A: Several factors contribute to the inadequacy of the drainage system, including:

Inadequate drainage design
Growth of urbanization
Changes in rainfall patterns

Q: What are the proposed solutions to overcome the problem of the drainage system?

A: The proposed solutions to overcome the problem of the drainage system include:

Increasing channel capacity
Addition of water reservoir structure
Better spatial planning
Socialization to the community

Q: Why is it important to involve the community in managing drainage channels?

A: It is important to involve the community in managing drainage channels because they can help maintain the cleanliness of channels and prevent blockages, which can contribute to flooding.

Q: What are the benefits of redesigning the drainage system?

A: The benefits of redesigning the drainage system include:

Preventing flooding
Improving the quality of the environment of the people in the region
Increasing the capacity of the drainage system to handle extreme rainfall

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The limitations of the study include:

The study only focuses on the drainage system in Jalan Bunga Cempaka and does not consider other factors that may contribute to flooding.
The study uses a simplified model to calculate flood discharge and does not take into account other factors that may affect flood behavior.
The study does not consider the social and economic impacts of flooding on the community.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: The future research directions include:

Developing a more comprehensive model to calculate flood discharge and take into account other factors that may affect flood behavior.
Considering the social and economic impacts of flooding on the community.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the redesigned drainage system in preventing flooding.

Q: What can be done to prevent flooding in the future?

A: To prevent flooding in the future, it is recommended to:

Redesign the drainage system to increase channel capacity and accommodate larger flood discharge.
Build a reservoir or water catchment pond to help reduce the flow directly to the drainage channel.
Integrate a drainage system in urban spatial plans that pay attention to environmental aspects and water catchment.
Involve the community in managing drainage channels and maintaining the cleanliness of channels so as not to be blocked.

By following these recommendations, the risk of flooding can be reduced, and the quality of the environment of the people in the region can be improved.