Lin Yanqin, Today Online 27 Jun 08;
TO MAKE the Marina Reservoir created by the Marina Barrage more than just a stagnant body of water, underground drains are going to be built so that water can circulate throughout Singapore’s water channels, keeping the lake fresh.
This project — called the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme :— was one of several tender announcements made by PUB yesterday, at the Singapore International Water Week Water Expo.
When completed in 2010, water from Upper Peirce Reservoir will be released into the new drainage channels leading to various tributaries, which then lead to Marina Reservoir. This will complement the pipe that will pump water from Marina Reservoir, already under construction, into Upper Peirce Reservoir, allowing water to circulate between the two reservoirs.
“It will create flowing water, which will help to improve water quality,” saidMr Devaray Sanmuganathan, PUB’s deputy director of best sourcing. Four tenders for various phases of the scheme will be called later this year.
Also announced yesterday were tenders for PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme to develop Jurong Lake in the Western catchment area, and Bishan Park, Sungei Kallang and Alexandra Park in the Central catchment area.
Bishan Park, for instance, will see a stream created within the park, with water from the Kallang River drawn and filtered through an existing canal. This will result in a clean body of water for recreation activities.
Other ideas PUB have in mind to transform these water channels and bodies include additional landscaping, fishing platforms and a geyser in the middle of Jurong Lake.
A tender will also be called for the Eastern catchment this year, though details are still unavailable.
PUB will also call for bids to build additional membrane bioreactor plants to meet additional demand at two of its water reclamation plants, Jurong and Ulu Pandan, to meet increasing demand, said Mr Devaray.
Since making such advance tender announcements before the actual calling of tenders, PUB has been able to reach out to a bigger pool of partners, contractors and suppliers for its various projects. “Anecdotally, we have seen more price competitive rates,” said Mr Devaray.
Altogether, PUB will be announcing 120 tenders over the next 12 months, with the projects estimated to cost about$1.1 billion in all.
Last year, about $995 million worth of projects were tendered.
PUB plans to award tenders worth $1.1b
Projects include Marina scheme, Seletar waterworks, two membrane bioreactor plants
Emilyn Yap, Business Times 27 Jun 08;
(SINGAPORE) Singapore's national water agency PUB plans to award about 120 tenders worth $1.1 billion from July this year to June 2009.
Major projects include the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme (MRRS), ABC Waters Programme, Lower Seletar Waterworks and two membrane bioreactor plants.
PUB announced the plans yesterday on the sidelines of the Singapore International Water Week. The agency has awarded contracts worth about $995 million since last July.
The MRRS aims to create a water recirculation system through Marina reservoir and six major rivers and canals to help improve water quality.
The construction of pipelines and other infrastructure will take place around areas such as Geylang river, Whampoa Canal, and MacRitchie Reservoir.
The scheme is in the detailed design stage and PUB expects to call four separate tenders from July to October.
Under the ABC Waters Programme, landscaping, drain improvement and other works will help enhance waterways for recreational uses.
The programme will yield four projects around Jurong Lake, Alexandra Canal, Sungei Kallang and Bishan Park, with tenders coming up in Q4 this year.
PUB also has plans for two membrane bioreactor plants at the Ulu Pandan and Jurong water reclamation plants. Both projects are still under study and tenders are scheduled for July and late Q3 respectively.
And for works at Lower Seletar Waterworks, PUB has already called a tender on June 13, which will close on September 11.
PUB hopes that the briefing will help contractors, suppliers and other industry partners plan ahead for the bids.
'At the same time, PUB will benefit from getting competitive bids,' said the agency's deputy director of best sourcing, Devaraj Sanmuganathan.
'As a whole, this will help Singapore develop our infrastructure in the most optimal way.'
Businesses in the water sector have responded positively to the news.
'United Engineers Limited has previously worked with PUB on numerous water-related projects and will look forward to participating in the bidding for these upcoming tenders,' said a spokesperson for the firm.
'The bumper crop of water project tenders will not only be a welcome boost to the economy, but also a catalytic force to further develop the water industry of Singapore,' he said.
'Keppel is interested in evaluating all opportunities that are presented on their own merits,' said CEO of Keppel Integrated Engineering Chua Chee Wui.
Regional sales manager for GE Water and Process Technologies, Wilson Tan, also said that the company will offer its ultra-filtration membrane technology to local contractors participating in the bids.
PUB to award tenders worth S$1.1b to transform Spore's water bodies
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia 26 Jun 08;
SINGAPORE : Singapore's national water agency PUB plans to award some 120 tenders worth about S$$1.1 billion between July this year and June 2009.
One of the bigger projects to be rolled out over the next 12 months is the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme.
It will bring flowing water from surrounding tributaries such as the Alexandra and Rochor canals, and Kallang River into the Marina Reservoir - which will be created once the Marina Barrage is ready early next year.
The Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme, to be completed by 2011, is expected to improve water quality at reservoir and open up the area for recreational purposes.
"The Marina Reservoir (serves) three (purposes) - flood control, water supply and of course, recreational use," said Devaraj Sanmuganathan, Deputy Director of Best Sourcing Department at PUB.
Tenders for the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme will be carried out in 4 phases, from July to October this year.
"Flowing water creates an ideal environment for aquatic life, and the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme does that. So with this flow, water will be clean and pristine, and anyone can enjoy sailing and canoeing activities there," said Sanmuganathan.
Other projects announced include the development of the Lower Seletar potable water treatment plant.
There is also the Active Beautiful Clean (ABC) Waters Programme, which seeks to transform concrete drains and canals into flowing streams and rivers. This project is divided into three catchment areas - in the western, central and eastern parts of Singapore. Tenders will be called in the last quarter of the year. - CNA /ls
