With rapid development being carried out in urban areas, there will be significant increase of impervious surfaces and loss of vegetation coverage resulting in increase in surface run-off. This additional contribution of water discharge, if left unmanaged, will result in severe flooding in the downstream and low-lying areas. The government has viewed this seriously and is providing funds yearly to various government agencies to implement urban drainage infrastructures.

Dah Yeh Villa Drain - 
Before Improvement

Dah Yeh Villa Drain - 
After Improvement

To streamline and improve the efficiency of urban drainage development in Sabah, the function of urban drainage development was handed over to Department of Irrigation and Drainage(DID) by Public Works Department(PWD) at the end of December, 1997. Hence, DID resumes the responsibility of planning, design, implementation and maintenance of urban drainage infrastructure in Sabah commencing from 1st January, 1998.

Handover of function from PWD to DID

Before this, DID was directed by the government to provide urban drainage development only in basin 5, 8 and 9 of the Kota Kinabalu Master Drainage Plan. However, with the new responsibility given, DID has to take over the continual urban drainage development from PWD including the supervision of several PWD on-going contracts in several parts of the State.

The responsibility of urban drainage infrastructure development in urban areas involved three government agencies namely DID, PWD and Municipal Council or District Council. The division of responsibilities is clearly defined by the government that DID is responsible for main trunk drains, PWD is responsible for road side drains whereas Municipal council and District Council are responsible for housing estate drainage.

DID, together with its Federal counterpart, will provide guidelines to other government agencies, engineering consultants and housing developers for the planning and design standards of urban drainage works. The Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia has already been in used since 1 Jan 2001 with the view of not only developing well-managed drainage catchments or basins, but also to meet secondary objectives such as sustainable land uses, public recreation, aesthetics, public safety, and groundwater recharge. Thus, as a requirement, development proposals will need to submit drainage plans to DID together with any proposed storm water detention/retention facilities and calculations showing compliance with prescribed DID guidelines for assessment and comments. It is important that adequate drainage reserves and infrastructures are provided in new development proposals in order to avoid costly future land acquisition.

Likas River - Before Improvement

Likas River - After Improvement

DID plans to carry out Urban Drainage Master Plans for all towns as a requirement for future urban drainage works.