Blocked drain blamed for Orchard Road flood

PUB will increase checks, install grates to prevent recurrence
Grace Chua & Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 18 Jun 10;

IT WAS just a single drain, about the width of an SBS bus. But it was so badly blocked by debris that it triggered the flooding of Orchard Road on Wednesday.

The critical culvert, at the junction of Tanglin and Orchard roads, drains into two parallel channels flowing under Orchard Road - a drainage system called the Stamford Canal.

The first heavy downpour of the morning had carried debris and vegetation into the 2.7m by 2.7m culvert, starting a chain of events that led eventually to the flash flood.

It was choked where it drained into the side of Delfi Orchard, so water was directed only into the side along Forum the Shopping Mall.

When a second intense rainstorm the same morning added more water to the drains within a short period of time, the canal overflowed and water gushed up to the surface of Orchard Road, causing the worst floods there in 26 years.

Worst-hit was the junction of Scotts Road and Orchard Road, the lowest-lying part of the area. Near the intersection, shops at Liat Towers and the Lucky Plaza basement were flooded.

Although national water agency PUB alerted the traffic police when the sensors at the start of each Stamford Canal channel indicated water levels were at 75 per cent, the water level rose too abruptly to get the alert out to shopkeepers.

At a press conference yesterday, the PUB said the heavy rains were responsible for sweeping the debris into the drain.

It was last checked about three months ago and was not blocked before Wednesday's storm, said Mr Yap Kheng Guan, director of PUB's 3P (Public, Private and People) Network.

After the flood on Wednesday had receded, PUB officers combed the canal for hours, and at 10pm that night found a third of the culvert still blocked.

To fix the problem, the PUB would now conduct checks more often than every three months, he said. It would also install grates in flood-prone areas to prevent debris from being swept into the drains.

Asked why there were no debris traps already installed in a known flood-prone area, he said the existing canal had been 'serving us very well'.

Rain this heavy had occurred twice before, in August last year and January 2008, without severe flooding, so the Stamford Canal has the capacity to handle such a volume of water.

What was unusual about Wednesday's storm was its intensity and its two peaks, he said. The first peak could have brought a certain amount of debris, and there was no way for PUB officers to safely check and clean it out. The next peak soon after might have brought even more debris.

'This is a learning experience for us,' Mr Yap said. 'Perhaps when we're dealing with a storm like this, we have to do something differently.'

In the long run, more sensors would be added to monitor water levels, he said. They would also serve as an early warning system similar to that now in place at Upper Bukit Timah.

Following flash floods in the area last November, flood sensors were installed which will trigger SMS alerts to condominium managements if the water level in the Bukit Timah canal reaches a certain height, so residents can move their cars and other property to safety.

Ms Lee Bee Wah, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC and deputy chairman of the National Development and Environment Government Parliamentary Committees, said the flooding was a 'timely wake-up call' that something more needs to be done to prevent a similar occurrence.

On Wednesday morning, 101 mm of rain fell over central Singapore in less than three hours. The average rainfall for the entire month of June is 162 mm.

National University of Singapore climate expert Matthias Roth said that though June is usually dry, heavy rain is always a possibility in places located close to the equator.

PUB's work comes under scrutiny
MPs, experts question if water agency had done enough to prevent floods
Victoria Vaughan & Grace Chua Straits Times 18 Jun 10;

MEMBERS of Parliament and experts yesterday questioned if a lack of maintenance was behind the flooding of Orchard Road on Wednesday.

Pointing to PUB's decision yesterday to conduct monthly checks of drains from now on, rather than the three to six months previously, they said the national water body should carry out a more detailed study and put measures in place that would prevent a recurrence.

Ms Lee Bee Wah, the deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development and Environment, already has plans to raise the issue in Parliament.

Saying that she has already filed a question on the flooding, she added: 'Either the design capacity is not enough, or the drainage system is not well maintained.

'There must be some audits which are lacking. I certainly feel that PUB can do more on maintenance. Although cleaning is outsourced to contractors, the responsibility does not go to the contractor. Ultimately, PUB is still responsible.'

Added Ms Lee, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC: 'It's a timely wake-up call. Imagine if it had happened during the Youth Olympic Games, when there are so many visitors in town.

'If they say the debris was swept in by heavy rain, then they've got to look at the design. There should be gratings to trap the rubbish. Whether it's because of heavy rain or because the debris was there, something still needs to be done,' she said.

Mr Cedric Foo, the chairman of the National Development and Environment GPCs, said he was concerned about the impact the flood would have on Singapore's image. He said: 'If such flash floods recur frequently, it will dent Singapore's standing as one of the world's most liveable cities.'

'MEWR (Ministry of Environment and Water Resources) should address the root causes, put in place measures to prevent a recurrence. Perhaps it should trap and extract debris upstream to prevent clogging of the drainage systems,' he added.

Mr Eugene Heng, the founder of Waterways Watch society, a volunteer group which helps clean up Singapore's canals and reservoirs, queried the practice of outsourcing critical maintenance work.

'When it comes to environment and national security, I do not think we should be outsourcing as these companies may not know enough about the situation.'

He added: 'I am surprised by the Orchard Road flooding. If we say our drainage system is good, then we should be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

'Historical rainfall data is not reliable, given the new circumstances caused by climate change.'

The PUB's plan to install more sensors along the Stamford Canal was also questioned.

Associate Professor Tan Soon Keat, director of the Danish Hydraulic Institute-Nanyang Technological University Water and Environment Research Centre and Education Hub, said sensors may not be the answer, as they only measure the build-up of water.

Responding to such a build-up takes time, and might come too late, he added.

This was the case on Wednesday. By the time sensors showed a sharp spike in water levels along a drain leading to the Stamford Canal, it was too late, and flooding occurred soon after.

Said Prof Tan: 'Regular maintenance and inspection of the drains, particularly after a day or two of dry weather, when leaves and twigs may have covered roadside drains, would help.'

Despite the questions, some experts praised PUB's drainage efforts to date.

Associate Professor Vladan Babovic, director of the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, a water research centre that brings together experts from the PUB, the National University of Singapore and Dutch water research institute Deltares, defended the national water body's track record.

'PUB does good stuff, considering that Singapore gets four times more rain than England,' said Prof Babovic.

'These freak events where it rains cats and dogs will result in flooding every now and then, but it shows how well PUB does the rest of the time.'

Choked drains caused massive flooding in Orchard Road: PUB
Joanne Chan Channel NewsAsia 17 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE : A choked drain caused the massive flooding in Orchard Road on Wednesday.

This was revealed by Singapore's national water agency, PUB, a day after floods wreaked havoc in the downtown area.

The skies opened and turned parts of Singapore into a muddy river on Wednesday.

Many questions were raised on why Orchard Road bore the brunt, when it has a network in place to manage rainwater.

Investigations found that the downpour led to a heavy build-up of debris trapped in an underground drain known as a "culvert".

Yap Kheng Guan, Director of 3P Network, PUB, said: "The interesting characteristic about this rainfall is that there were two bursts of very heavy, intense rainfall.

"The first peak may well bring in some vegetation and that could have been trapped inside the culvert, and the second peak came along, brought in more vegetation and caused more of the debris to be trapped."

Water from Nassim Road and Cuscaden Road normally flows into two sections of Stamford Canal, which runs along Orchard Road.

But the build-up of debris in the culvert caused the rainwater to be diverted into only one section.

This resulted in rainwater overflowing onto Orchard Road.

After the water had subsided, PUB officers found one-third of the culvert blocked.

PUB maintains that Stamford Canal is able to handle rain of similar intensity.

Mr Yap said: "Over the last two or so years, there were two times when rainfall matched the one that we saw yesterday. There were no flood incidents in the Orchard Road area."

PUB also ruled out the Marina Barrage as the cause of the flood, as the reservoir level was within the normal operating range.

PUB is taking to steps to ensure that such blockages do not occur again.

It will inspect critical closed drains every month, instead of every three to six months.

Debris carried by rainwater flowed through the canal just behind Tanglin Shopping Centre on Wednesday. The mostly-vegetation eventually built up and was trapped in a drain downstream.

To prevent such future blockages, PUB said it will be installing litter traps. It will also be adding sensors to detect any irregular spikes in water levels and this will allow PUB to alert the public in advance.

Wednesday's flood at Orchard Road was the worst since 1984, and losses to businesses there are likely to run into millions of dollars. - CNA/ms

Businesses in Orchard Road hit by floods may take 4-6 weeks to get house in order
Kristine Lim, Lynda Hong Channel NewsAsia 17 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE: Some businesses hit by the flash floods in Orchard Rood may take at least four weeks to get their house in order.

The flash floods are gone but businesses particularly those at Liat Towers are still picking up the pieces.

At fast food outlet Wendy's in Liat Towers, the damage could run up to S$500,000.

Goh Wee Ling, corporate communications manger, Wendy's, said: "We would have to spend some time in re-doing up the outlet because in a way, it is going back to the drawing board. Everything has been affected by the flood. So we got to start from square one and we got to start doing up things again."

The outlet would need at least four weeks before it can re-open.

In the meantime, its 40 employees will be deployed to other outlets in Lau Pa Sat and Jurong Point, which will now open 24-7 during the World Cup Season.

Besides Liat Towers, some shops at Lucky Plaza are also not ready to open.

Steven Goh, director, Orchard Road Business Association, said: "This flood is quite unusual and it's quite unfortunate that it happens once in 25 years. The association is very concerned and we sympathize with those retailers, especially those at Liat Towers and Lucky Plaza. "

The association is also looking at working with the relevant authorities and government agencies on preventive measures. - CNA/vm

Clogged canal caused flash floods, says PUB
Leong Wee Keat Today Online 18 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE - A heavy build-up of debris in an underground drain linked to Stamford Canal has been identified as the likely cause of the flash floods which turned parts of Orchard Road into a lake on Wednesday.

The question is, how long had the debris been trapped there? And with Stamford Canal last upgraded in 1984 and last inspected three months ago, could a more recent check have prevented the flooding?

The canal serves as the main drainage artery, which splits into two underground drains that run down the heart of Orchard Road.

Mr Yap Kheng Guan, PUB director for 3P (public, private and people) Network Department, felt a recent inspection was unlikely to have prevented the flash floods.

He said a short and intense downpour at 9.30am pushed debris down Stamford Canal and trapped it partially in one drain near Delfi Orchard shopping centre.

A second downpour, an hour later, aggravated the situation. Rainwater was then diverted into another drain of the canal, which led to rainwater overflowing near the junction of Scotts and Orchard roads.

A whopping 101mm of rain - about 60 per cent of the normal rainfall in June - fell on Wednesday.

Referring to Wednesday's downpour, Mr Yap told a press conference yesterday: "The inspection can help you to make sure you don't have a build-up of debris. But, in a case like this, it will be very difficult and I think it will be unrealistic to say it will help prevent this kind of thing."

Still, the PUB will now inspect the Stamford Canal once a month - from the current practice of three to six months. It will also install additional debris traps upstream at the open section of drains to prevent the build-up of debris.

PUB's investigations also revealed the Marina Barrage had worked and the water level at the Marina Reservoir was within operating range. The Stamford Canal was also able to handle Wednesday's rainfall, it added.

Meanwhile, affected retailers were still picking up the pieces after the watery mayhem.

At Liat Towers, Starbucks staff threw away a dustbin full of damaged items and removed damp furniture.

Meanwhile, retailers at Lucky Plaza Shopping Centre were busy replacing damaged carpets, drying wet merchandise and borrowing blow-dryers and vacuum cleaners from neighbouring shops.

Mr Mohamed Sihabudeen was perplexed about the drainage system outside the shopping centre as he saw the deluge of rainwater cascading into his basement shop.

He said: "It feels like a disaster and it didn't even rain for a day, but just three to four hours."

Mr Mohamed was among a group of retailers who estimated losses of at least $8,000 - he had only set up shop early this month and failed to get insurance.

When asked yesterday if retailers could approach the national water agency for compensation, PUB's Mr Yap said the authorities' immediate priority is to help affected retailers get back on their feet.

PUB will also install additional sensors along Stamford Canal to monitor unusual spikes or dips in water levels and could trigger SMS alerts to alert those in the Orchard area about an impending flood, Mr Yap said.

But he added: "We have to be realistic ... if you design (drains) for the most extreme storms, we will be probably having a lot of drains, very wide, waiting for the rain to come."

Shoppers grab goods washed away
Sujin Thomas Straits Times 18 Jun 10;

THE ugly side of shoppers surfaced during the Orchard Road flood on Wednesday, when a number of people were seen helping themselves to floating goods in the basement of Lucky Plaza.

Mr Randy Tan, 28, who works at electronics shop Scorpia Xtreme Gaming, said he saw passers-by grabbing items from his shop, such as iPhones and iPads, which were bobbing about in the knee-high water at about 10.30am.

He said: 'There was a sound like an explosion and a gush of water came flowing through and took the items with it.

'Passers-by took everything. I saw someone with a basket happily picking up stuff and also heard another call a friend asking him to come join in,' he added.

The electronic items, estimated to be worth some $10,000, had been displayed on the floor or on low-lying racks.

Mr Tan and two colleagues were powerless as they watched the goods float some 10m away in the direction of the McDonald's restaurant.

Mr Tan said they could do nothing as they needed to save whatever items they could inside the shop first.

Inside McDonald's, Ms Angela Quek, 40, who was having breakfast with a colleague, told The Straits Times that she saw shoppers grabbing hair accessories and perfume boxes, which were floating in the brown water.

A few doors away, fashion accessories shop Sinma also lost a number of items, such as wigs and hair accessories, swept away by the water.

Store supervisor Melissa Gueh said she could not could give an estimate of the cost of the losses.

Nearby, Mr Jeremy Ng, who works at Megatronics Photo, said his shop lost only two or three silicone cases for mobile phones in the second gush of water that flowed through at about noon.

He said: 'We were lucky. There were many other shops that lost a lot more.'

Lawyer Chia Boon Teck said that the taking of such items constitutes criminal misappropriation of property.

He said: 'It's obvious to any passer-by that these items belong to a shop and the act is no different from looting.'

Anyone convicted of the offence can be punished with a maximum of two years' jail and a fine.

Liat Towers' shops still shuttered
It could be weeks before they can reopen, staff say, as damage is severe
Ng Kai Ling & Lim Wei Chean Straits Times 18 Jun 10;

THE big clean-up began in earnest yesterday for Liat Towers stores as owners took stock of the flood damage and accepted that it could be weeks before they can open for business again.

The shutters stayed down at Starbucks, Hermes, Wendy's and Massimo Dutti, probably the worst hit in a deluge on Wednesday that turned parts of Orchard Road into a flowing conduit.

Fast-food restaurant Wendy's had been open for just three days when the flood destroyed everything, including equipment, furniture and fittings, said spokesman Goh Wee Ling.

She said: 'Optimistically, it will take four to six weeks before we can reopen.'

The outlet had cost $500,000 to set up and equipment had to be customised and imported. The bill does not take into account the perishable items destroyed by the flood waters and lost revenue.

Its neighbours were unable to put a figure to the damage as yet but said they were in talks with their insurers.

The flood waters were drained from the area only at about 5pm on Wednesday, by which time, furniture, shelves and fittings had been submerged for about six hours.

At Hermes, contractors were taking measurements to refit the boutique with shelves.

Hermes Singapore's marketing director Madeleine Ho said almost all the merchandise, such as bags, scarves and belts, were saved by staff, who formed a human chain passing the items from the flooded lower floor to the second floor of the store on Wednesday.

But the walls, window displays, furniture and furnishings were badly damaged. Ms Ho said restoration 'will take some time' as a large portion of the fittings has to be imported.

At Starbucks, employees were busily sorting out mugs and flasks that could be salvaged from the muddy premises. Workers were carting away soaked couches and other pieces of damaged furniture.

Starbucks Coffee Singapore's marketing manager Ruth Yam said the damage was 'quite extensive' and the company was taking this as an 'opportunity to elevate the experience for our customers and remodel the store'.

No date was given for the reopening but the store's supervisor Jessie Chan said the clean-up alone would take 'at least' two days.

Mr Tommy Chang from Northwest Interior Design said that to redo a cafe the size of the one at Liat Towers would cost about $60,000 to $70,000 and at least $100,000 to $200,000 for a boutique.

'Fashion boutiques are more troublesome because they have to customise their display with specially-made panels and lighting,' added the design consultant, who has worked on projects with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

At Lucky Plaza, which escaped less scathed, only Watsons and Bossini remained shuttered.

Watsons' senior marketing manager Irene Lau said some 20 workers, contractors and Watsons staff have been working round the clock to replace shelves and fixtures, repaint the walls and repair the flooring to get it ready for reopening tomorrow.

A Bossini spokesman said the store had lost more than $10,000 worth of goods. It is 'trying to get back into business as soon as possible because it is the Great Singapore Sale'.

Associate Professor Qin Xiaosheng, from the Nanyang Technological University's environmental and water resources engineering division, said most buildings are not designed to drain such a large volume of water coming in.

National water agency PUB said yesterday that the flood was caused by a heavy build-up of trapped debris in a culvert which caused a block in the Stamford Canal system.


Getting back on their dry feet again
Staff of shops work hard to get businesses up and running again quickly
Hoe Pei Shan Straits Times 18 Jun 10;

IT WAS back to business yesterday for some of the Orchard Road retailers hit by Wednesday's flash floods.

At the McDonald's outlet in Lucky Plaza, there was no hint of the knee-high muddy water that overwhelmed the basement restaurant.

Instead, the usual morning bustle returned as customers ordered their breakfasts and sat themselves down at spotless tables.

A customer having breakfast with his two young children was astounded when told that the very seat he was in had been almost completely submerged just 24 hours earlier.

'I was aware of the Orchard Road flooding but didn't know this McDonald's outlet had been hit - I can't even tell, it looks like it usually does,' said a 33-year-old delivery man who wanted to be known only as Mr Loo.

A McDonald's spokesman said that a team of about 15 staff worked till 3.30am yesterday morning to get the outlet ready for business.

While repair work was being done, equipment and supplies from other outlets were brought in to replenish what had been washed away or destroyed.

A few doors down, fashion accessories boutique Sinma also showed little signs of being the victim of the most brutal flooding in the Orchard area since 1984.

Staff had removed damaged goods and resumed normal service yesterday morning, while contractors continued to work on fixing destroyed structures, including the back door shutters that had been broken by the rushing water.

Clothing store Giordano's two basement outlets also managed to keep business running while conducting repairs.

Quick thinking by staff of one of the outlets to place merchandise out of harm's way even saw business resume as early as 2pm on the day of the floods, said the store's supervisor Juwanis Wahab.

The 26-year-old added that the severity of the flood was also lessened by opening the store's back door to allow water to escape into the interior of the shopping complex.

In fact, tenants discovered that the layout of the Lucky Plaza basement - where a series of alleyways link the dozens of shops - allows for good flow, of both customers and, in Wednesday's case, water.

Mr Syed Alsagoff, 55, manager of the McDonald's outlet, noted how he and his neighbours fared much better than businesses at Liat Towers just down the road.

Pointing at the ample floor space which helped prevent the water from being trapped, he added: 'Lucky Plaza's building structure is quite different from Liat Towers' - some stores here have both front and back doors, and there are alleyways between shops.'

The other Giordano outlet, which suffered more damage and had to be closed on Wednesday, also succeeded in reopening its doors yesterday morning.

Contractors managed to begin work only at about 1pm yesterday and it was not until past midnight that the mess was cleared and damaged fixtures restored.

More touching up was done at 9am yesterday and business was up and running by 11am.

The only tell-tale sign of any disruption was the absence of music that usually blasts throughout the day - while most of the merchandise had been spared, the Giordano outlet's hi-fi system perished in the flood.

Of the retailers which were hit significantly by the floods, only Bossini and Watsons remained closed. But both outlets said they were doing their best to reopen as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, there was still the usual Orchard Road shopping crowd who seemed almost oblivious to the chaotic scene just a day earlier - they were more interested in grabbing the best bargains from the Great Singapore Sale now on.

Flood mystery solved; retailers pick up the pieces
Culvert near Delfi Orchard blocked up by Botanic Gardens vegetation, litter
Uma Shankari and Felda Chay Business Times 18 Jun 10;

(SINGAPORE) The culprit behind the Orchard Road flash flood that may have caused millions of dollars of damage has been pin-pointed - a drain choked by vegetation at Tanglin.

The enclosed drain, or culvert, near Delfi Orchard diverts water from Nassim and Cuscaden roads into two sections of Stamford Canal which run along Orchard Road.

The heavy build-up of debris (vegetation from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and elsewhere as well as litter) in the culvert caused the heavy rainwater on Wednesday to be diverted into only one section of the canal. The overworked lone canal section then overflowed, causing rainwater to overflow onto Orchard Road, said PUB yesterday.

PUB revealed this after a thorough investigation. The agency will now install more litter traps in the open sections of drains from Singapore Botanic Gardens all the way down to Tanglin to trap debris carried into the drains during a downpour.

More water level sensors will also be installed along Stamford Canal for closer monitoring of unusual water levels.

PUB also said that Stamford Canal's capacity was adequate as the water was not in danger of overflowing after the two canal sections rejoin near Somerset.

Rather, the flood was caused by heavy rain that brought along with it a lot of vegetation, said Yap Kheng Guan, director of the PUB's 3P Network department. The department oversees the strategic communications and community relations efforts for PUB.

'There were two bursts of very heavy, intense rainfall. The first peak may have brought in some vegetation which could have been trapped inside the culvert. And the second peak came along, brought in more vegetation and caused more debris to be trapped.'

Almost 100 mm of rain - more than 60 per cent of the monthly average for June - fell between 9am and 11am on Wednesday. This caused flood water as deep as 30cm deep at the junction of Orchard and Scotts roads, which last saw major flooding in 1984. Businesses may be hit with millions of dollars in damage and lost sales as water seeped into building basements and stores.

Yesterday, affected businesses at badly hit properties such as Lucky Plaza, Liat Towers, Tong Building and Delfi Orchard started taking stock of the damage after water was pumped out on Wednesday.

A few re-opened for business. McDonald's at Lucky Plaza opened its doors to fast food fans at 8.30 am yesterday after clean-up was carried out overnight.

But others remained closed. Fast food restaurant Wendy's said that losses are likely to stand at more than half a million dollars 'from damaged equipment and physical infrastructure, not including perishable items'.

The franchise, operating under the Kopitiam Group here, also said that its other two stores at Lau Pa Sat and Jurong Point would open for 24 hours from today till July 12. It will be deploying staff originally stationed at Liat Towers to Jurong Point, and Lau Pa Sat.

Said Kopitiam managing director Alden Tan: 'We hope to make the best out of a bad situation.'

Hermès, Massimo Dutti and Starbucks said that they were still assessing damage. At Hermès, staff on Wednesday managed to save the French label's luxury goods by quickly forming a human chain and moving the merchandise from the first level to the second.

'But while our products escaped unscathed, the walls, window decoration, furniture and furnishings were badly damaged,' said a spokeswoman. 'Restoration will take some time as a substantial portion of the fittings have to be imported. We are presently in consultation with our insurers. As of now, we cannot confirm when the store will reopen.'

Like Hermès, other affected businesses - and owners of motor vehicles stuck in the floods - are expected to seek some form of compensation. Insurers told BT that claims are filtering in.

'MSIG has received notification of several claims following yesterday's Orchard Road floods. These relate to property and motor vehicle damage,' said a spokeswoman for MSIG Insurance. 'It is too early to estimate the total number of claims we will receive or the estimated payout. This is because those insured who have suffered losses need time to report claims.'