Desalting of Marina Reservoir almost complete: Minister

AsianOne 11 Jan 11;

SINGAPORE - Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Assoc Professor Yacob Ibrahim said in a written statement that desalting of the Marina Reservoir was almost complete and that it had started contributing to Singapore's water needs.

This was in response to a question raised by Mr Seah Kian Peng in the Parliament's second session on January 10. Mr Seah had asked for updates on the salinity of Marina Barrage and the ecological effects on its surrounding areas, as well as the rivers feeding it.

Mr Yacob Ibrahim also said the Public Utilities Board (PUB) would continue to monitor the reservoir and the surrounding ecology.

"Close monitoring of the reservoir and surrounding ecology since the onset of the desalting process has so far shown no undesirable effects," he said.

The Marina Reservoir serves three benefits, namely augmenting Singapore's water supply, alleviating floods and creating a new lifestyle attraction.

Desalting of the reservoir began in April 2009 and has steadily progressed through natural replacement by rainwater.