Brunei-Muara District - Drainage of The Brunei-Muara District

Drainage of The Brunei-Muara District

There are four main river systems or basins irrigating the four districts of Brunei. The Brunei river flows within the Brunei-Muara district. It runs into the Brunei Bay beyond which is the port of Muara. The upper reaches of the river are a major freshwater source particularly for the western part of the country.

Dense mangroves and nipah palms, a rich breeding ground of coastal fisheries, cover the lower parts of rivers near estuaries. Pristine tropical jungles and valuable freshwater sources are the upper reaches of Brunei river. A high proportion of urban development borders in the Brunei river. Located by the principal rivers are all the district centres, including Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital within the Brunei-Muara district.

Limited reserves of groundwater have been identified in the Berakas area of the Brunei-Muara district. The estimated safe yield is 17.3 million m3/year. Brunei has two dams with a total storage capacity of 45,013,000 m3. The Tasek reservoir used for water supply has a total capacity of 13,000 m3 and a catchment area of 2.8 km2.