Prior to the formation of DID in 1932, all works in connection with drainage and irrigation was related to by the Public Works Department.

Following the slump in the tin and rubber industries in the late twenties and the worsening rice situation in the country, the then British High Commissioner appointed in 1930 a Rice Cultivation Committee to determine "the best steps to be taken in order to encourage rice cultivation in Malaya".

The DID can look back on its history of successfully executed programmes with pride. The experience and knowledge that it has gained, together with its current dynamism have placed the Department in the forefront as the guardian of the nation's water resources.

Subsequent to the formation of Malaysia in 1963, additional State Drainage and Irrigation Departments were established in Sabah and Sarawak and this increased the number of State Departments to thirteen with the Federal Headquarters being responsible for the overall drainage and irrigation matters in the country. The significant increase in development since 1957 is reflected in the areas provided with irrigation facilities increasing from 205,000 hectares (3,000 hectares with double cropping facilities) to 332,000 hectares (249,000 hectares with double cropping facilities) by the end of 1981. The areas provided with drainage facilities, too, has increased from 142,000 hectares to 476,000 hectares in the same period.

In 1970/71, severe floods occurred in many parts of West Malaysia and the situation was so serious that a national disaster had to be declared on January 5th. 1971. Subsequent to this occurrence, flood mitigation and hydrology was made an additional responsibility of the Department from 1972 onwards.

From 1986, coastal engineering has become an added function of the DID. The River Management Conference was held on 1988, and a subsequent discussion by the Special Action and Management Committee lead to the establishment of the River Engineering Division (1990).

The Department has moved from Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-based Industry (MOA) to Ministry of Natural Resource & Environment (NRE) on March 27th, 2004. The Department which is under the direction of the Ministry of Natural Resource & Environment, has over the years taken on new and expanded responsibilities. Today, the DID's duties encompass :

• River Basin Management and Coastal Zone
• Water Resources Management and Hydrology
• Special Projects
• Flood Management
• Eco-friendly Drainage