All clogged up
Today Online 1 Apr 09;
Every day, 10 tonnes of litter are collected from the drains and canals that lead to the Marina Reservoir, while another 1 tonne is removed from the reservoir itself.
“The water (at the reservoir) will be impacted by what happens on land. If someone living in Ang Mo Kio throws litter into the drain, it will find its way down,” said Mr Yap Kheng Guan, director of PUB’s 3P (Public, Private, People sectors) Network.
The Marina catchment covers one-sixth the land area of Singapore, including Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Paya Lebar.
Litter, such as styrofoam cups and bottles, “destroys the value we are trying to create from this beautiful (soon-to-be) freshwater lake”, Mr Yap added.
Currently, PUB spends $4.5 million annually to remove the waste, including a daily clearing of flotsam and litter at the Marina Reservoir. ALICIA WONG
