Civil Engineering and ConstructionUrban Drainage, Culverts and Stormwater Management
Flooded intersections, washed out road crossings and eroded outfalls after a summer thunderstorm are often traced to a culvert or pipe sized for the wrong storm. This course covers the hydrology and hydraulics behind urban stormwater systems. Delegates estimate design floods using the rational method and unit hydrograph approaches with regional rainfall data and return periods, then design kerb inlets, pipe networks and open channels using Manning's equation. Culvert hydraulics follows, distinguishing inlet and outlet control, with headwall and energy dissipation details. Detention ponds, attenuation storage and sustainable drainage measures are sized to limit runoff increases from new development. Erosion protection and maintenance access close the programme. Delegates leave able to design and check a minor and major drainage system for a township or road.
Course objectives
- Estimate design peak flows using the rational method and hydrograph techniques
- Select return periods for minor and major drainage systems
- Design kerb inlets, gully spacing and stormwater pipe networks
- Size open channels and lined drains using Manning's equation
- Analyse culverts under inlet and outlet control and design headwalls
- Size detention and attenuation facilities to limit downstream peak flows
- Apply sustainable drainage measures such as swales, soakaways and permeable surfaces
- Specify erosion protection and energy dissipation at outlets
Who should attend
- Municipal roads and stormwater engineers
- Consulting civil engineers on township and road projects
- Road authority design and maintenance engineers
- Developers' engineers preparing stormwater management plans
- Civil technologists and draughtspersons in drainage design
Course outline
- 01Rainfall, catchments and return periods
- 02Rational method and hydrograph techniques
- 03Inlets, gullies and pipe networks
- 04Open channel hydraulics
- 05Culvert design and inlet and outlet control
- 06Headwalls and energy dissipation
- 07Detention, attenuation and sustainable drainage
- 08Erosion control and maintenance planning
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 to 30 October 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | |
| 28 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 4 to 8 January 2027 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 25 to 29 January 2027 | Lusaka, Zambia | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 8 to 12 February 2027 | Mbabane, Eswatini | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 8 to 12 March 2027 | Kampala, Uganda | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate |
Urban Drainage, Culverts and Stormwater Management
From R8,500