INGENIEUR
and amenity construction which include filter and infiltration trenches , permeable surfaces , water storage , swales , rainwater harvesting , detention basins , wetlands and ponds ( Zhou , 2014 ). The design criteria for the SUDS are shown in Table 1 ( CIRIA , 2015 ).
The Public Works Department of Malaysia ( PWD ), as the leading technical agency in developing infrastructure projects in Malaysia and a member of the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee , has adopted a more sustainable drainage system design approach in support of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 . One of the initiatives taken towards improving water quantity and quality control in an environment friendly manner was pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia ( USM ). A smart partnership between USM and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia ( DID ) has resulted in the design and construction of the Bio-Ecological Drainage System ( BIOECODS ) ( Zakaria et al ., 2003 ; Zakaria et al ., 2004 ; Chang et al ., 2018 ). This drainage system combines infiltration , delayed flow , storage and purification as pretreatment of stormwater before discharging it to constructed wetlands . In addition to source control , these measures include integrating large-scale landscapes into the development as a major element in the stormwater management system . The concept of BIOECODS is to integrate the drainage system with the Ecological Ponds for further treatment of the stormwater runoff . The integration of the two components will increase runoffs lag time , allow pollutant removal through settling and biofiltration , and reduce the peak hydrograph .
BIOECODS , which is a green technology , complies fully with the Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia ( MSMA ) ( DID , 2012 ) and has become a national pilot showpiece project in promoting SUDS in Malaysia . BIOECODS comprises a series of components , namely ecological swale , in-line underground storage and dry ponds . The conveyance system is integrated with the Ecological Ponds ( a series of wet ponds , detention ponds , constructed wetlands , wading rivers and recreational ponds ) for further treatment of the stormwater runoff . The system utilises a source control and treatment train approach for stormwater management without compromising the overall project cost and aesthetic value to the environment .
PWD Pilot Projects for BIOECODS implementation
The decision to implement BIOECODS in PWD Projects calls for a research and development initiative to further assess the effectiveness of this green technology in terms of best construction materials to be used and identification of the best management practices for ecological drainage system construction . For this purpose , two pilot projects were implemented at the Pasir Mas District Police Headquarters ( IPD Pasir Mas ), Kelantan and the Southern Civil Defence Training Centre ( PULAPAS ) at Kluang , Johor . The selection of these projects was made based on the level of facilities namely , on-site and community .
Site A : Pasir Mas District Police Headquarters ( IPD Pasir Mas ), Kelantan
The development at IPD Pasir Mas covers a catchment area of 4.5 hectares on medium soil type . This area was originally an oil palm plantation . More than 75 % of the total area has been developed into impervious areas such as paved roads , car parks , playgrounds and utilities ( other than buildings ). The construction of this project took about 152 weeks and started in June 2016 . The construction of BIOECODS started in early March 2019 and ended in August 2019 . ( See Figure 2.1 )
Site B : Southern Civil Defence Training Centre ( PULAPAS ), Kluang , Johor
The development of PULAPAS covers a catchment area of 8.126 hectares on terraneous area . The area was surrounded by oil palm plantations . More than 42 % of the total area is impervious , with the construction of an Assembly Hall , musolla , paved roads , car parks , buildings and utilities , in addition to existing buildings . The duration of this project was approximately 152 weeks and started in October 2017 . The construction of BIOECODS started in early 2019 and ended in September 2020 . ( See Figure 2.2 )
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