WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

MFA 10603

PROJECT

MOHD FARHAN BIN SUKAIMY

GF190020

LECTURER:

DR. SITI NAZAHIYAH BINTI RAHMAT

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & BUILT ENVIRONMENT (FKAAB)

30th JULY 2020

 TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION 2

LITERATURE REVIEW 4

BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA 5

HISTORY OF FLOODS 6

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FLOOD 8

IDENTIFICATION OF FLOOD AREA 12

FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN 15

CONCLUSION 17

REFERENCES

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 INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is arranged in Southeast Asia and comprises of Peninsular Malaysia from the
Asia landmasses and Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo Island. Found close the equator with higher
concentration of sun based vitality where the Sun’s beams strike nearly full on all year round and
encompassed by the ocean, the discuss is wet and is by and large secured with clouds all year
round.
Malaysia is profoundly impact by the dry and damp rainstorm additionally the period in
between known as the inter-monsoon. The damp rainstorm brings overwhelming, widespread
continuous downpours whereas the associate rainstorm period as a rule deliver tall intensities
convectional downpours. The combination of the extremes temperature in tropical districts with
the weight angles in these regions and the sea presentation produces extraordinary climate
conditions and the visit event of surges.
Flooding is the foremost serious risk in Malaysia, a country experiencing a damp tropical
climate with overwhelming regular storm downpours. In the past, nature took care of itself as
endless regions of woodlands and wetlands soaked up precipitation abundance and postponed the
stream of water into waterways. Indigenous peoples are too well adjusted to regular surges, as their
ways of life and livelihood on floodplains have advanced over centuries as adjustments to surges
(Pin et al., 2003).
Floods are known as frequent and most devastating events worldwide. WWAP (2006)
stated that China, India, Philippines, Iran, Bangladesh and Nepal are extremely vulnerable and
more affected by the floods. It shows that the majority of affected flood disasters are poor people
from developing countries, who suffer the most and are the first causalities reported of such
disasters. The devastating consequences from the occurrence of flood in developing countries are
worse through self-exited poverty-cycle phenomenon (Osti, 2004).

Consequently, this stressing drift of annihilation due to surge in creating nations will assist
proceed unless the dependable adapting instrument are well set up in development. In any case,
due to the need of mindfulness, assets and suitable approach, the issue may not be unraveled as
what created nations have done. This specific helplessness of creating nations underlines the
pressing have to be advance generally quick, in fact middle of the road, environment neighborly
and socially acknowledged taken a toll viable basic as well as non-structural countermeasures that

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ought to be arranged and actualized by community agreeing to their genuine needs and
reasonableness.

Additionally, flood, as defined by the International Commission on Irrigation and

Drainage, is a relatively high flow or stage in a river, markedly higher than the usual; it also
includes the inundation of low land which may result therefrom. A river will be floods when it can
no longer contain the discharge from its catchment and the bank full stage is exceeded (Sharma &
Priya, 2001). Furthermore, depending on the geographical setting, floods can be classified as: river
floods, rainfall floods, flash floods, tidal floods, storm surge floods and urban floods (Chowdhury
et al., 1997). Floods can be also broadly classified into “normal” and “abnormal” or “extreme”
events.

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 LITERATURE REVIEW

Flood is the most devastating natural disaster experienced in some countries, especially in
Malaysia. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the water on earth is salt water and only 0.014% is found
in lakes, rivers, underground and in the air. Floods in Malaysia have been classified in two
categories by the Malaysian Drainage and Irrigation Department which are flash flood and
monsoon floods (DID, 2000a). Based on the hydrological perspectives, there are clear difference
between these two disasters is the period taken by the river flow to recede to the normal level. In
terms of duration to recover, flash floods take only some hours to return to the normal water level;
meanwhile monsoon flood can take last for a month to recover (Noorazuan, 2006).

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) highlighted that throughout Malaysia,
including Sabah and Sarawak, there is a total of 189 river basins with the main channels flowing
directly to the South China Sea and 85 of them are prone to recurrent flooding (89 of the river
basins are in Peninsula Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak). The estimated area vulnerable
to flood disaster is approximately 29,800 km2 or 9% of the total Malaysia area, and is affecting
almost 4.82 million people which is around 22% of the total population of the country (DID, 2009).

The extreme flooding happened in 2014, gives a huge negative impact on the economy and
to society in general on several states especially in Kelantan. These floods are extensive, severe
and unpredictable and result in significant loss of life, damage to crops, livestock, property, and
public infrastructure (Winstedt, 1927). The General Director of the Drainage and Irrigation
Department, Hj Ahmad Hussaini (2015) states that there are two major water-related problems
affecting this country; excess water (floods) and water shortage (droughts).

Both these problems have disrupted the quality of life and economic growth in the country
and can result in severe damage and loss of property, and occasionally loss of human lives, as can
be seen in the December 2006 and January 2007 floods in Johor (Hussaini, 2007). Hence, the
damage caused by the recent flooding in parts of north and estern Malaysia in 2014 is likely to
exceed RM1 billion or almost USD$300 million (Berita Harian, 2014). Based on the statements
by Kelantan’s Flood Disaster Operations Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed in
2014, the flood damage in Kelantan alone almost reached RM200 million.

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 BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA

Johor is located in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia and administratively divided
into eight districts with Johor Bahru serves as its capital state in highly urbanized setting that
connects Malaysia to Singapore as an international business hub and port of entry. The close
proximity of Kota Tinggi to Johor Bahru which is approximately 42-km north-east of Johor Bahru
had been the main factor contributing to its rapid development as part of the Johor Bahru growth
corridor.

Batu Pahat (BP) is a town and capital of Batu Pahat District, Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-
east of Muar (a royal city), south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian and south of Segamat.
The town area is located inside Simpang Kanan parishes. As of 2009, Batu Pahat town is the 20th
largest urban area in Malaysia in terms of population. In 2006, Batu Pahat surpassed Muar to
become the second largest urban area in Johor and by 2012, Batu Pahat is the 16th largest urban
area in Malaysia in terms of population. As for the racial demography, Chinese make up the
majority of the population at 62% followed by the Malay at 36% and Indians at 2%.

Figure 1.0: Satellite view of Batu Pahat

5
 HISTORY OF FLOODS

In December 2006 and January 2007, southern of Peninsular Malaysia has been hit with
series of floods with high rainfall recorded. Johor had been affected badly by the storm with the
worst case was in Kota Tinggi and Segamat. Batu Pahat also one of the district that affected by
second wave of the flood. This chapter will present the general analysis for flood of 2006 and flood
of 2007 in Johor focusing on the impact in Batu Pahat.

The storms that caused floods of December 2006 and January 2007 was the unusual
Northeast Monsoon that blows from South China Sea and West Pacific Ocean. Usually, the
Northeast Monsoon brings heavy rain to the upper East Coast area. It is normal for the lower East
Coast area to receive heavy rains during the monsoon season, but the December 2006 and January
2007 storms brought extremely high rains. The close occurrence of both storms on widespread
area triggered the damages affecting more than 100,000 people and left the Government not
completely prepared for such a huge number of victims.

Table 1: Daily Rainfall (mm) from 16th – 20th December 2006

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 Table 2: December Accumulated Rainfall (1-20 December 2006) in comparison with the
Monthly Accumulated Mean

Batu Pahat started to receive heavy, widespread rain from the period of five (5) continuous
days starting on the 17th to 21st December 2006. Due to the low lying areas of the town and its
close proximity to estuaries, the continuous heavy widespread rainfall especially on December 19,
2006 had caused the river rising rapidly and eventually started to fill up the floodplain areas. The
inundation period lasted approximately 13 days and the number of victims in Batu Pahat was
35,522 people. On December 30, 2006, most of the areas had dried out and the relief shelters
started to close down by phase. By January 11, 2007, most of the victims have returned to their
properties and the condition seems to get better with most of the areas are safe to live. On 11
January 2007, continuous heavy rains started to fall on the state of Johor for another four (4) days
until January 14, 2007.

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 CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FLOOD

In general, the December 2006 rainfall distribution has a 50-yr return period, which means
a 2% probability such maximum precipitation will occur in a year. The January 2007 however
gave more than 100-yr return period which means 1% probability of such maximum precipitation
will be exceeded in any one year. The 2% probability in a year of 365 days could give a total days
that the chances of a 50-yr maximum precipitation could happen for a period of 7 days. The 1%
probability give a total days for chances of a 100-yr maximum precipitation could sum up to 3-4
days total. The December 2006 flood of 50-yr maximum precipitation last about a week and the
January 2007 flood of more than 100-yr maximum precipitation last about 4 days.

Typhoon Utor was blamed for heavy rains of up to 350 mm within 24 hours in southern
Peninsular Malaysia, specifically Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Pahang, causing massive
floods within the southern region on 18 December 2006, which were considered as the worst in
the history of the southern region of Malaysia. However, there were also reports a few days earlier
that adverse weather was not to be blamed on the typhoon.

The severity of both floods events were mainly caused by the heavy rainfall from the
monsoon. However, the distribution patterns, the duration coupled with the geographical location
of the affected area had triggers the impact. The second storm phase had paralyzed the town with
the storm distribution is higher than the December events. The previous inundation had increased
the soil moisture in the areas to saturation and when the second storm occurred, the mess from the
first flood such as debris, trash and sediments eroded from the previous disaster, has not been
cleared. These messes caused obstruction to the flow and resulted in more severe flood impact and
further destroyed the existing flood destruction.

Several districts in Johor including Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru, Kluang, Kota Tinggi,
Mersing, Muar, Pontian and Segamat were been flooded. Between 60,000 and 70,000 people had
been evacuated in the state while food shortage at relief centres had been reported. Flooded roads
disrupted the delivery of aid to flood centres. Most of the flood victims had been living without
clean water or electricity for days. According to health authorities, reports of water-borne diseases
were on the rise. In some areas, looting was reported after floodwaters receded.

8
 The second bout of flooding, which was larger than the first one, had almost paralysed
Johor after all 8 districts were submerged by the flood. The areas worst affected by the second
flood were Batu Pahat and Kluang. Both waves of the flood disaster were considered as the
costliest flood in Malaysian history, with the total cost of damage caused by the floods standing at
RM 1.5 billion. In the early morning of 12 January 2007, floodwaters were slowly rising at Jalan
Jaffar in Kota Tinggi, while the residents were all shifting their goods in preparation for the second
flood. In the morning of 13 January 2007 around 4:00a.m., the Sungai Semberong bridge at Batu
5, Jalan Kluang-Mersing (Federal route 50) collapsed after being washed by strong currents.

A research carried out by Kong et al., (2010), on urban flooding figure 3 shows that, 28%
of people believe that flood is due to improper drainage system, 20% think the cause is pollution,
18% says is the management of urbanization and 16% said environment factor and 11% believe
weather is the causative agent while 7% choose dam break (Kong et al., 2010).

Figure 2: Causes of Flooding

This result was validated by the research carried out by Thorndahl et al., (2008). According
to the study, flooding occurs as a result of improper drainage system and they also state seven
causes of urban flooding in which three of them are related to drainage system (Thorndahl et al.,
2008). Similarly, urban flooding due to dam breaking has been stated in a research carried out by
Gallegos et al., (2009). Another statement by Oguntala et al., (1982) also validates the research of
Kong et al., (2010) on the improper management of environment is one of the causes of flooding

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(Akin et al., 1982). Therefore, this shows that, factors like improper drainage system, dam breaking
and improper management of environment are main causes of flooding with the support of almost
60%.

During the flood, many structures has been totally submerged and some basic facilities like
hospital, police department and fire department also affected. Precautions should be taken
seriously when there is inflammable structures or properties around that could cause fire.
Unwanted collision during the flood could cause fire. A good example happened in the Fort Collins
Flood of 1997 where the train track crossing the creek derailed due to the strong current and
causing an explosion to the nearby liquor store causing fire. This is the case where the unexpected
could happen during the disasters. The 1997 Fort Collins flash floods claimed 5 fatalities with 54
people injured and 200 homes destroyed and it flooded a creek that you can step over most of the
time (Stafford, 2007).

The strong current had swept away structures, eroded the banks causing piles of debris and
masses of garbage that clogged and causing the flow obstruction. Many flood structures built to
protect public properties and agricultural areas were destroyed and failed to protect the properties
on the second storm. Most of the structures were designed to withstand 25-years return period
since the area used to be rural with scattered residential. The designed for urban areas is 100-year
return period. The January 2007 flood was more than 100-years return period.

The wide coverage of banana, rubber and palm oil plantation contributes to high sheet
erosion due to low resistance provided by the almost bare ground. The native plants either a full
mature forest or low shrubs which provide high resistance has been replaced with commercial
plants for source of income. However, during the flood this plantation area has turned to an open
field and caused massive sheet erosion. The plantation has given the space for the floodwater to
flow freely with extremely strong currents creating a temporary river to channel the water to lower
areas cutting through approximately 1.5m.

When disaster strikes, public are the most vulnerable to impact and damages by the
disaster. The flood has destroyed many homes and put down businesses causing depression among
the victims. Many victims suffered severe trauma due to the properties damage and loss. It is
uncommon in Malaysia to insured the properties for natural disasters and the destruction left the

10
victims helpless with insufficient financial supports. The funding assistance from the Government
usually is limited due to other needs in refurbishment and major repair of public infrastructures.

A study by Vinet (2008) stated that, as the effects of flooding include damage to home,
shops and industries. He point out that, flood victims have problem with the cost of repair and
some small shops do not reopen after the disaster. The above research was recently validated by
Kong et al., (2010), where they ascertain that, more than 33% of people during their research agree
that, water damage to house, structures and appliances are some of the effects of flooding.

Also loss of income due to closing of business is another effect of flooding. About 25% of
people agree with this effect, and 17% believe that transport disruption is another effect of flooding
(Kong et al., 2010). Figure 3 below shows the results of their research.

Figure 3: Effects of Flood

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 IDENTIFICATION OF FLOOD AREA

Flooding can occur in flat or low-lying areas when the rate of water supplied by rain or
snow is higher than the rate of drying. Excess water will accumulate somewhere and can
sometimes reach dangerous depths. Surface soils can become saturated with water which
effectively stops water infiltration. Infiltration is also slow in areas of frozen soil, rock, concrete,
paved or covered areas. Area flooding starts in flat areas such as flood plains and in local depressed
areas that are not connected to the flow channel because the speed of the land flow depends on the
slope of the surface. Endorheic basins may experience flooding in areas when the water
distribution exceeds the rate of evaporation.

Floods may occur as a result of overflow of water from reservoirs, such as rivers, lakes, or
oceans, where water overflows or breaks through embankments, causing a certain amount of water
to cross the normal boundary, or it may occur as a result of rainwater accumulation in saturated
soils in flooded areas. Although the size of a lake or other body of water varies with the change of
seasons of rain and snow, this change in size will not be considered significant unless it floods the
property or drowns the pet.

Floods can also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the river flow capacity,
especially at bends or winding areas along waterways. Floods often cause damage to homes and
businesses if they are in the river’s natural flood plains. Although river flood damage can be
avoided by moving away from rivers and other water bodies, people traditionally live and work on
the banks of the river because the land is usually flat and fertile and because the river provides
easy movement and access for trade and industry.

Some floods develop slowly, while others such as flash floods, can develop in minutes and
without signs of rain. In addition, floods can be localized, affecting neighborhoods or communities,
or very large, affecting entire river basins.

Parit Raja in Batu Pahat was among the areas that were badly flooded during the floods in
2006. Jalan Parit Karjo lost contact with the outside area. The whole village was flooded. All
villagers are evacuated in flood relief centers in schools and in halls that are safe from flooding.

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Figure 4: Water rises along Jalan Parit Karjo

Figure 5: Houses of villagers were flooded

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Figure 6: Schools that are also flood relief centers were also flooded

Figure 7: Number of Victims on December 2006 Flood in Johor

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 FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN

There are a lots of flood mitigation plan can be taken to manage flood disaster in Malaysia.
However, flood mitigation plan can be summarize into two group which is structural approach and
non-structural approach.

Structural measures in surge administration framework alludes to a choice of arrangement

to flood issues and issues by introducing structures and actualizing physical improvement works
specifically related to the cause of flooding (DID Manual, Vol. 1, 2009). This approach is the most
favored approach by the engineers conjointly known as the difficult engineering approach. The
structures are unbending to the biological system but more often than not plan to handle and
illuminate the pressing issue to spare human and profitable properties.

The following are the curative measures approach in flood mitigation structures:

i) Regulate Water Level: Barrage, tidal gate, flap gates, lock

ii) Store and controlled release of flood water: Dam, reservoir, detention and retention
ponds, bund, inlet and outlet and spillway

iii) Improve flow efficiency and controlled flows: River channelization, improvement
works, flood wall, weir, control gate, culverts

iv) Re-route the flood flow: River diversion, diversion channels, flood bypass (open
channel and tunnel), intake structures, bridge and culvert

v) Forced removal (non-gravity flow) of excess water: Pumps, pump house, inlet and outlet
structures

vi) Delineation and separation: Polder, ring bund, linear bund

Non-structural measures is any approach that not including the development of the physical
measures. The non-structural measures more often than not is utilized to complement the
confinement by structural measures by implies of lawful assentation, rules, laws and controls,
arrangements or basically by preparing and mindfulness through instructive programs in different
15
level based on the target bunches. Non-structural measures for surge moderation includes
arranging, programming, setting arrangements, coordination, encouraging, rising mindfulness,
helping and fortifying the society to confront the dangers and impacts of surges. It too covers
teaching, preparing, controlling, detailing, estimating, caution and advising those at dangers
counting unrealistic, evaluating, financing, soothing and restoring (DID, 2009).

The following are the non-structural measures can be implement:

i) Flood plain management

ii) Flood hazard mapping

iii) Land use Planning and Zoning

iv) Flood Proofing

v) Flood Forecasting and Warning System

vi) Flood Response

vii) Flood Damage Assessment

viii) Flood Insurance

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 CONCLUSION

In Malaysia, a long time of control by engineers within the DID have either purposely or
inadvertently made surge administration a generally basic approach, in spite of the DID professing
to be multi-disciplinary. While the numerous basic measures employed hitherto have been capable
for lessening a few of the impacts of flooding, they have not been completely effective within the
by and large administration of surges. This can be to a great extent due to a lop-sided (intensely
one-sided) building approach that's intrinsically restricted in effectiveness simply since it prohibits
the benefits of a more comprehensive approach. Other than building structures, the other official
reaction is based on a reactive approach of evacuation, alleviation and rehabilitation, reacting when
a surge has happened. As a result, flood danger diminishment has not been as successful because
it got to be.

Of more prominent concern, however, is the truth that the specialists have not completely
misused the value of a rich variety of conventional surge diminishment components, which may
be consolidated into official frameworks. This has driven to, among other things, the hesitance of
surge casualties to cooperate and react effectively to official Flood Warning and Evacuation
Systems. Hence, there's a ought to incorporate the benefits of a more comprehensive approach
with complementary non-structural measures, such as arrive utilize control, surge plain
management, advancement control, change of surge estimating and warnings, resettlement of
flood-prone communities, etc. Comprehensive surge risk management in Malaysia can as it were
be handled viably in case the casualties themselves are persuaded that official reaction frameworks
truly work. More critically, non-structural measures, such as those that are customarily utilized by
the individuals, must be consolidated into official frameworks.

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REFERENCES

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2. Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (2009). Flood management manual vol
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3. DID 2000a, urban storm water management manual for Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur:
Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia.
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modeling of urban dam- breaking flooding: a case study of Baldwin hills, California’,
Advances in water resources, 32(8), 1323-1335.
5. H. A. Hussaini, (2007) “Flood and drought management in Malaysia,” Ministry of
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(59-65), Month: October - December 2014
6. Kong Yoke Yoon, Noor Azima Binti Bahrun, and Yew Kun, ‘A study on the urban
flooding’, October 2010.
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Int. J. Emergency Management, Vol. 1, No. 3
8. Noorazuan M.H. (2006), ‘Urban hydrological changes in the Sankey Brook catchment’,
Unpublished PhD thesis. Manchester: University of Manchester.
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problem’, Urban ecology, 7(1), 39-46.
10. Osti, R. (2004), “Community participation and agencies role for the implication of water
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11. Shafie, A. (2009), ‘Extreme Flood Event: A Case Study on Floods of 2006 and 2007 in
Johor, Malaysia’, Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado
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DISASTER AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA’, International Journal
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13. Thorndah S. &Willems P. (2008), ‘Probabilistic modeling of overflow, surges and
flooding in urban drainage using the 1st order reliability method and parameterization of
local rain series’, Water research, 42(1-2), 455-466.
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Programme-WWAP, Paris.

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