Engineer proposes automated drainage system for Georgetown

Georgetown could soon see a major transformation in its drainage management system following the recent submission of a comprehensive proposal by Engineer Patrice Jacobs to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The proposal outlines an innovative approach to managing the city’s sluices and kokers through advanced technology and real-time offsite monitoring, aimed at improving the efficiency of Georgetown’s drainage network and reducing the risk of flooding.

Presenting the proposal, Jacobs noted that while the city’s gravity drainage system has served Georgetown for many years, it is no longer adequate to meet the demands of a growing and evolving urban environment.

This proposal comes amid a new strategy launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, seeking to modernise the country’s water management systems, strengthen climate resilience, and support national development.

“The gravity system as we know it has done its best while it lasted, but as we continue evolving as a city, we find that the drainage system is woefully inadequate, and as such a solution is being proposed to assist in that regard,” Jacobs explained.

He highlighted the unique challenges faced by Georgetown, which lies below sea level and is affected by two tidal cycles each day. These conditions require careful management of the city’s drainage infrastructure to prevent flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and high tides.

According to Jacobs, the current drainage system relies heavily on manual operations, with workers required to physically open and close kokers using winches.

“The system in its current state is manual, where we depend entirely on a human to open the koker using a winch. That in itself worked when it worked, but it is time that the city consider new opportunities for improvement,” he stated.

The engineer is proposing a fully automated system capable of operating around the clock. The technology would automatically open, close and seal sluices based on changing conditions.

“The solution I am offering is an automatic solution. It will be opened automatically, it is going to close automatically, seal automatically, and it is going to run 24 hours,” Jacobs said.

He further explained that the system would monitor water levels at outfalls and make real-time decisions on the operation of drainage structures. A demonstration of the proposed technology was also presented to city officials during the meeting.

While advocating for greater automation, Jacobs emphasised that the system should not completely eliminate human involvement.

“We want to move to a point where we can have an automated system that will work regardless of whether the human is there or not,” he noted, adding that human oversight and participation would still be necessary to ensure the effective operation and maintenance of the drainage infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the first National Drainage and Irrigation Strategy launched last week, is a landmark framework designed to modernise the country’s water management systems, strengthen climate resilience, and support national development.

The strategy also places strong emphasis on innovation, technology, data-driven planning, digital tools, and smarter water management practices to improve operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.