Makeshift drain system in Maavah proves effective against flooding

The island of L. Maavaah saw 107.7 millimeters of rainfall on Wednesday. But a makeshift storm drain system built by the island’s council proved effective in preventing flooding.

According to information released by the Maldives Meteorological Service on Thursday, Maavah is the island which saw the heaviest rainfall over the last 24 hours, as torrential rain and thunderstorms lashed a large part of the country.

Maavah Council’s president Ahmed Moosa told Sun on Thursday that Maavah usually experiences extensive flooding even with moderate rainfall, with flood water seeping into homes and damaging property.

He said that the council has now found a permanent solution to the issue.

The Maavah Council has built a makeshift drain system in the island by installing pipes in the most flood-prone areas. The pipes are buried under the earth at a level that it does not require pumps. Instead, the storm water is redirected directly into the sea.

Ahmed said that the council has surveyed and built drains in 11 of the most flood-prone areas of the island.

He said that the system had been effective in redirecting the storm water from Wednesday’s heavy rainfall.

“These pipes are very easy to use. The caps are taken off when it starts raining,” he said.

Ahmed noted that the weather agency has warned that the heavy rain is expected to prevail over the next 48 hours.

He said that while the makeshift storm drain system has been effective in preventing flooding during the current seasonal rain, the council is also prepared to use pumps to drain storm water, if necessary.

Ahmed believes the system they are using in Maavah is more effective than digging trenches – as some islands have done.

“Some islands have dug trenches. But I believe digging trenches is very damaging. Digging trenches result in the loss of a large quantity of sand. And you later can’t get the sand you need to cover the trenches back up again. So, instead of digging trenches, you should install pipes where you would normally dig trenches. This can provide a permanent solution,” he said.

Flooding during heavy rain is common in Maldivian islands, including in the capital Male’ City. Such incidents have resulted in damage to homes, leaving people temporarily displaced.