I Ketut Angga, 28, has been on high alert ever since a flood hit Denpasar two weeks ago.
"The first flood, which inundated my house with water, occurred four years ago," said the father of one who lives in Denpasar's Sidakarya district.
He said his house had been waist high in water. Since then, he has expanded his house to four stories.
"The latest one did not come into my house, but the water flooded my yard, my kitchen and my bathroom," the salesman said.
Angga is one of many Denpasar residents concerned the floods may become more regular and more severe.
Last week, the Tohpati river flooded, almost breaking its banks and sweeping three cars off a nearby road. Several residents of Jalan Pura, West Denpasar, were evacuated to higher ground.
Sandi Adnyana, secretary of the Center for Environmental Research at the Udayana University (PPLH Unud), said it was not surprising Denpasar was being affected by floods.
A study conducted by the institute in 2006 revealed that several areas in Bali were prone to flooding.
The research, called "A Study to Identify Natural Disaster Prone Areas in Bali", showed that South Denpasar, where Sidakarya is situated, was among the most flood-prone areas on the island.
"That area is 4,092.03 hectares. The second largest area is Negara district, which is 3,280.140 hectares. Kuta is third, it's 1,507.860 hectares," Sandi said.
R. Suyarto, head of the research team that conducted the study, said more than 39,000 hectares of land in Bali was vulnerable.
"At least 17,495.820 hectares of land on Bali is highly prone to flooding," he said.
Suyarto said north Bali was particularly vulnerable. Buleleng is vulnerable because it is a low-lying area situated on a six-kilometer-deep coastline at the foot of a number of mountains, he said.
"Floods in that area would generally move at high speed," Suyarto said.
Southern Bali, he said, was susceptible solely because of poor city planning.
"South Bali has really bad city planning and an awful drainage system," Sandi said.
Sandi said PPLH Unud had already presented its findings to the administrations of the island's vulnerable cities and regencies.
"We even gave recommendations on how they could prevent floods, but it seems they just didn't feel like responding or did not take our research seriously," he said.
He said the team had told the relevant authorities to pay close attention to communities situated near rivers and to enforce city planning regulations.
His team also recommended authorities build water catchment areas, flood dams and dredge rivers.
"This is especially important for neighborhoods near rivers," he said.
Sandi said residents of urban areas should clean and maintain their drainage systems and dig wells.
"And everyone should participate in making everyone aware of the dangers of throwing garbage into drainage systems in urban areas," he said.
He said that if everyone followed the recommendations, neither Ketut Angga's family nor tourists in Juta would have to worry about flooding.
