Urban Drainage and Stormwater Management Using GIS and SWMM Software in Tenali Municipality, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has significantly altered natural hydrological processes in many Indian towns, resulting in frequent urban flooding during monsoon rainfall events. The expansion of impervious surfaces reduces infiltration and increases surface runoff, often overwhelming existing stormwater drainage systems that were designed based on outdated rainfall and population projections. Tenali Municipality, located in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, experiences recurrent waterlogging and flooding during moderate to heavy rainfall events due to inadequate drainage infrastructure and improper system planning. In the present study, the urban stormwater drainage system of Tenali Municipality was analysed using an integrated approach combining Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Stormwater Management Model (EPA-SWMM). Spatial data required for the study were extracted using Google Earth Pro and processed in ArcGIS to delineate drainage networks, catchment areas, and land use characteristics. A detailed SWMM model was developed by defining sub-catchments, junctions, conduits, outfalls, and rainfall inputs, and simulations were carried out at 15-minute time intervals to evaluate system performance under high-intensity rainfall conditions. The simulation results indicate that several drainage conduits experience surcharge conditions, leading to localized flooding in low-lying areas. Insufficient conduit capacity, inadequate slopes, and downstream flow obstructions were identified as major contributors to flooding. Flood-prone locations were spatially mapped using GIS to clearly visualize vulnerable zones within the municipality. The study demonstrates that the integrated use of GIS and SWMM is an effective tool for diagnosing deficiencies in urban drainage systems and provides valuable insights for improving stormwater management strategies. The findings can assist municipal authorities in planning infrastructure upgrades and mitigating urban flood risks in Tenali and similar medium-sized towns in India.

Introduction

Urban flooding is an increasing problem in rapidly urbanizing Indian towns due to the expansion of impervious surfaces, outdated drainage infrastructure, and the intensification of rainfall events driven by climate change. Many urban stormwater drainage systems were designed decades ago and are now inadequate to handle current runoff volumes, leading to frequent waterlogging, infrastructure damage, traffic disruption, and public health risks. Medium-sized towns, in particular, often lack systematic drainage planning, maintenance, and performance evaluation, resulting in issues such as insufficient drain capacity, poor connectivity, encroachments, and blockages.

This study focuses on Tenali Municipality in Andhra Pradesh, a low-lying, rapidly growing town in the Krishna River basin that experiences recurrent monsoon flooding. Owing to its flat terrain, inadequate drainage layout, and increasing urbanization, Tenali is highly susceptible to waterlogging. To address this, the study evaluates the existing stormwater drainage system using an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) and EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) approach.

GIS tools were used to prepare spatial datasets, map drainage networks, delineate sub-catchments, and analyze land-use characteristics, while EPA-SWMM was applied to simulate rainfall–runoff processes and hydraulic behavior under high-intensity monsoon rainfall using dynamic wave routing. The methodology involved detailed drainage planning, model development, rainfall input preparation, simulation, and result analysis to identify surcharged conduits, flooded junctions, and system bottlenecks.

Simulation results reveal that several low-lying junctions and convergence points experience flooding due to inadequate drain capacity, insufficient slopes, and poor connectivity. Many drains operate under surcharged conditions during peak rainfall, leading to prolonged waterlogging consistent with field observations. The study concludes that improving drain capacities, ensuring regular maintenance and desilting, preventing encroachments, and implementing basic stormwater source-control measures can significantly reduce urban flooding. Overall, the integrated GIS–SWMM framework proves to be an effective tool for diagnosing drainage deficiencies and supporting improved stormwater management in Tenali and similar medium-sized urban areas.

Conclusion

Urban stormwater management has become a critical concern in rapidly urbanizing towns such as Tenali, where increased impervious surfaces, inadequate drainage capacity, and climate-induced high-intensity rainfall events have resulted in frequent flooding and waterlogging. The present study systematically evaluated the performance of the existing stormwater drainage system of Tenali Municipality using an integrated GIS and EPA-SWMM modelling framework. The approach provided a scientific understanding of urban runoff behaviour, drainage system performance, and flood vulnerability within the municipal limits.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Medikonda Karunya, Dr. P. Mynar Babu . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.