An analysis of water runoff solution for Msida

Abstract

Msida is one of the worst cases in water runoff. Msida is at sea level and there is the valley leading to it. The water runoff runs to Msida through regional road and valley road. However regional road is not that problematic because not a lot of runoff comes that way. The runoff water comes to Msida mainly by valley road. Valley road should have never been constructed. It lies in the middle of a valley and this is causing all the problems in Msida. Several attempts have been made to resolve this problem but most of them failed. This valley collects water from Naxxar, Birkirkara Mosta and on the other hand there is Hamrun. The catchment area of Msida is of 1088 hectares, which is a large area. The latest solution was the construction of a retention basin in Mannarino road bit this was designed for a one in two year storm and it would fail for a one in five year storm such as that which occurred in September 1998. One of the problems that are present is that the remedies, which have been taken, did not collect runoff water from the beginning of valley road but the drainage to the sea was collected from Msida marina. Valley road in tum is fully developed so the runoff moves foster and the peak flow is reached within a short period of time making the remedies more problematic. During severe storms damage to property and furniture in them, vehicles and sometimes, even death were encountered. To make the situation worse most of the buildings in valley road do not have their own underground water cistern so the rainwater falling over their area is directed to the street or to the drainage system causing overflowing. Since Msida near o the sea level partial discharge of water runoff in the rock cannot be done since they get saturated quickly. In this dissertation these problems are being recognised an addressed to finally propose a final solution.