The Male' Water and Sewerage Company Limited (MWSC) has begun efforts with the relevant authorities to prevent flooding in Male' City during heavy rainfall.
Managing Director of MWSC Abdul Matheen Mohamed said that 16 pump stations are installed in Male' City, of which 14 are connected to the stormwater management system. The system works automatically, and each pump station discharges 400cbm of water per hour. Therefore, a total of 5,000cbm of water can be discharged from all the stations within an hour.
However, Matheen said that flooding in Male' City is attributed to the drainage system being designed to start removing water within two hours after rainfall ceases. He added that the system needs to be modified to allow it to drain water immediately. He noted that the change in rainfall patterns in the country due to climate change is also a cause of flooding.
Additionally, Matheen said that short-term measures can be taken to address the issue of flooding, adding that the decision has been made to double the capacity of four pump stations on Ameenee Magu. As such, two pumps will be installed at each station to discharge 1,600cbm of water per hour. He also noted that the waterline used to be in the middle of Ameenee Magu but that the road is being developed with larger waterlines on either side of the road and connected to the stormwater system.
Stormwater management systems are currently installed in the southern and western parts of the city. Matheen emphasised that a comprehensive solution to the flooding issue would necessitate substantial work. He highlighted the need to modernize the entire road network and integrate it with a citywide stormwater management system, aligning with the President's proposal.