Guayabito Flooding – Solutions

Possible solution to the Guayabitos flooding problems presented at Rotary today.

At the Rotary meeting today August 10, 2011 Arq. Octaviano Figuero presented an analysis of the problem of flooding in Guayabitos and the solutions the College of Civil Engineers and Architects of Jaltemba Bay is proposing. Pictures and maps thanks to Octaviano and Google.

The presentation started with the objectives of the project:

Avoid flooding in Guayabitos
Integrate the plan with Compostelo
Finish the planning in 2011 and build the project in the first half of 2012
Arrive at the 2012 rainy season with the work completed

He said the problem was not just the rain that falls on the 200,000 square meter town but also the 4 million square meter drainage basin in which the town lies.

Almost a meter of rain falls in the area on average each year.

The natural drainage has been covered by development of the town constricting the natural flow to Jaltemba Bay and there in lies the basic problem.

This map shows the main area affected by the flooding and the three current outflows. At the top extent is the main street Sol Nuevo where three of the pictures below were taken.

One of the outflows is blocked intentionally because in days past when there was not sufficient control of the system folks connected their household sewage to the storm drains. The other is blocked with sand and debris and could probably be made useful with regular maintenance. The third is functioning but at about half capacity according to Arq. Octaviano.

The proposed system after rehabilitation includes a drainage ditch from the highway Sol Nuevo and 5 underground drains.

A number of solutions used in other areas were presented including cement lined ditches and full street drainage grills.

During discussion after the presentation the cost of the project was estimated at about 12,000,000 pesos which would come form all three levels of government.

The College is in the process of drafting a letter of support for the project which it will be inviting residents and business owners to sign before presenting it to our new municipal government in Compostelo when they take their offices. It was pointed out that approaching the current administration is not useful since they cannot commit to a project of this size which will extend past their term of office.

In response to a question about whether the flooding was worse this year than years past Octaviano said it definitely was. Last year there were a total of 4 serious flooding events in the zone and this year there have already been 6.

Here are more of Octaviano’s pictures taken August 7th.

Other Resources:

More pictures: Flooding in Guayabitos – Update

Discussion on the forum: Storm drains and flooding in Guayabitos and Guayabitos Flooding – Solutions