Tunnel is a One-of-a-Kind Solution to Flash Flooding

Xylem designed the unique Storm Water Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) system to manage a notorious flash-flooding problem in Kuala Lumpur’s central business district. 

Following a series of devastating floods, the $600 million SMART project was commissioned by the Malaysian government as a solution to control storm water. Located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, the area around Kuala Lumpur is prone to serious flooding. Continuous urban development has placed pressure on the city’s drainage system to cope with flash floods. 

The first of its kind in the world, Xylem’s innovative design incorporates a tunnel which diverts storm water before it enters the city center and acts as a double-decker motorway link during drier periods, relieving traffic congestion on the city’s main highways. The 9.7 kilometer-long tunnel can hold up to one million cubic meters of water, which is released into the river downstream from the city to prevent flooding. Since its installation, the solution has controlled multiple flooding events, preventing serious damage to the city. 

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