Gm. Heywood et al., MODELING DRAINAGE PERFORMANCE IN AN INDIAN CATCHMENT, Journal of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, 11(1), 1997, pp. 31-38
Surface-water flooding occurs frequently in low-income urban settlemen
ts of developing countries, with impacts on public health and the loca
l economy. In many locations, drainage systems are neither appropriate
nor sustainable. A computer model of a small surface-water drainage c
atchment has been developed within a slum improvement programme in Ind
ore, India. The model was calibrated and verified against flow-survey
data, and was used to study the effects on performance of maintenance
(as reflected in solids build-up in pipes) and site grading. The resul
ts confirm the critical importance of maintenance in drainage performa
nce and the need for construction engineers to consider drainage caref
ully before changing site-grading plans. The results also suggest some
general trends in drainage performance during floods.