Salalah is preparing to advance the second phase of its stormwater drainage project as part of ongoing efforts by Dhofar Municipality to bolster the city’s resilience against flooding. This initiative comes in response to the increased vulnerability caused by rapid urban growth, which has concentrated homes, roads, and infrastructure in areas exposed to heavy rainfall and runoff.
Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Baowain, Director-General of Projects and Technical Affairs at Dhofar Municipality, provided details during the Water Resources Sustainability: Water and Climate Change seminar held in Salalah. He noted that the city currently operates between 450 and 460 stormwater culverts, comprising approximately 130 pipe culverts and 320 to 330 box culverts. These structures vary widely in capacity, featuring between one and 39 openings to accommodate the differing drainage needs across the municipality.
While specific cost estimates and the timetable for the next phase were not disclosed, Baowain emphasized that the municipality is increasingly integrating side drainage systems into new road projects. This approach aims to reduce the accumulation of surface water and facilitate the efficient diversion of runoff away from main roadways. Additionally, the municipality is moving towards the deployment of automated pumping stations in areas prone to water pooling. These smart pumps would activate automatically once water reaches predefined levels, minimizing the need for manual intervention during intense rainfall events.
The broader flood management strategy includes multiple components such as drainage channels and corridors, collection basins, storage and detention dams, and nature-based solutions. Early-warning systems are also part of the comprehensive plan. Protecting natural wadis forms a critical element of the municipality’s approach. Baowain highlighted erosion control measures implemented on six wadis but cautioned against overly aggressive wadi ‘cleaning’ operations. Alterations that reduce a wadi’s natural width or alter its flow capacity could inadvertently shift flood risks to adjacent areas, undermining overall resilience efforts.
Urban expansion presents growing challenges for flood management, with some new buildings constructed below the elevation of neighboring roads, increasing their susceptibility to inundation. To address this, the municipality is undertaking detailed assessments of ground levels and fill requirements for development plans, taking into account local topography and drainage dynamics.
Baowain illustrated these challenges by contrasting current urban layouts with images of Salalah from the early 1970s. He noted that areas once largely undeveloped now contain multi-storey buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, significantly increasing the exposure of residential, commercial, and public assets to flood risks. Despite ongoing development, the underlying natural drainage landscape persists, underscoring the need to integrate traditional patterns of water flow into modern urban planning.