New reservoirs to boost Singapore's water supply

Channel NewsAsia 3 Jul 11;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's water supply received a boost with the opening of the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs.

This brings the total number of reservoirs in Singapore to 17.

The reservoirs were created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon.

They will collect rainwater from estates and areas within Punggol and Sengkang, as well as parts of Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.

Together with the Marina Reservoir, they increase the water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore.

National water agency PUB celebrated this milestone on Sunday at a ceremony officiated by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

The plan is part of PUB's strategy to create estuarine reservoirs by damming the major rivers to collect and store as much of the 2,400mm of rain that it gets annually.

Singapore has eight reservoirs collecting water from urbanised catchments in the densely populated city areas and residential towns.

PUB said water from local catchments is a pillar of Singapore's water sustainability strategy, along with imported water, high-grade reclaimed water branded as NEWater and desalinated water.

Collectively, these four sources of water are known as the 'Four National Taps' to ensure a diversified and sustainable water supply.

PUB said besides enhancing water supply, the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs are set to transform the landscape in north-eastern Singapore.

Envisioned as a 'waterfront town of the 21st century', Punggol Town will soon become a commercial and social hub, with a 4.2-km waterway that connects both reservoirs running through the estate and town centre.

Residents can look forward to waterfront living in the heartlands with a myriad of attractive and lifestyle choices lined up along the banks.

- CNA/cc

Two new reservoirs help boost Singapore's water supply
AsiaOne 3 Jul 11;

Two new reservoirs opened in northeast Singapore, giving Singapore a much-needed boost to water supply.

Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs are the latest additions, bringing the total number of water catchment areas in Singapore to 17.

PUB announced today that they increase the water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore, together with the Marina Reservoir.

The milestone achievement was celebrated in a ceremony officiated by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore is "well on our way to self-sufficiency" with imported water from Johor, NEWater, and desalinated water providing Singapore with a sustainable water supply.

Created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon, the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs will collect rainwater from estates and areas within Punggol and Sengkang, and parts of Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.

This is in line with PUB's strategy to create estuarine reservoirs by damming the major rivers to collect and store as much of the 2400mm of rain that it gets annually.

The Minister also urged Singaporeans to play our part to make sure the reservoirs stays clean. He said: "As we look forward to these new developments, it is important to note that we need community support and community participation because we need to keep our areas clean. If you just stopped to think about it, every drop of rain that falls on the ground or lands in our drains, ends up in a reservoir and ultimately in our drinking cups. And that requires all of us to play our part to make sure it stays clean and safe."

Waterfront living in the heartlands

Besides enhancing water supply, residents of Punggol and Serangoon can look forward to waterfront living in the heartlands with a myriad of attractive and lifestyle choices lined up along the banks.

Envisioned as a ‘waterfront town of the 21st century’, Punggol Town will soon become a commercial and social hub, with a 4.2-km waterway that connects both reservoirs running through the estate and town centre.

Located right in the midst of Punggol Reservoir, the ABC Waters project - Sengkang Floating Wetland – links the Anchorvale Community Club to the Sengkang Riverside Park via a bridge on one side, and a boardwalk skimming the water surface on the other. While helping to keep the water clean by natural processes, the wetland also provides a habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity there.

Lorong Halus Wetland along Serangoon Reservoir collects and treats water passing through the former landfill, preventing it from flowing into the reservoir. This helps safeguard the quality of water in Serangoon Reservoir.

Like the Sengkang Floating Wetland, the Lorong Halus Wetland is developing into a natural habitat for wildlife over time. Members of the public can also go on the nature trails to learn more about wetland, the plants, and various wildlife that thrive there.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "Punggol Town will also serve as a 'living laboratory' to test bed new ideas and technologies in sustainable development.

"Work on the first Eco-Precinct, named the Treelodge@Punggol, is already underway, with eco-friendly features such as the collection of rainwater to wash common areas and rooftop greening."

Once landfill and pig farms, now vital reservoirs
Punggol, Serangoon reservoirs to supply 5% of S'pore's water needs
Mavis Toh Straits Times 4 Jul 11;

SINGAPORE'S 16th and 17th reservoirs - formerly home to pig and poultry farms and the Lorong Halus landfill - were officially declared open yesterday.

The Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs, created by damming the Punggol and Serangoon rivers respectively, are open to the public, though parts of the promenades are still under construction.

Little remains of what these two areas once were.

Construction of the two water catchments, which cost $300 million, started in 2006. The water from the two reservoirs will be pumped to Upper Peirce Reservoir for storage.

The two new reservoirs are connected by the 4.2km Punggol Waterway, which runs through Punggol housing estate and provides residents with waterfront living and water activities.

At the official opening of the reservoirs yesterday, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said they marked yet another milestone in Singapore's journey towards achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability in terms of its water stocks.

With a combined catchment area of 5,500ha, the two reservoirs will supply about 5 per cent of Singapore's water needs.

Taken together with the Marina Reservoir, they will expand Singapore's water catchment area from half its total land area to two-thirds - an achievement Dr Balakrishnan believes to be a world record.

Apart from its 17 reservoirs, Singapore depends on imported water, Newater and desalinated water.

Also present yesterday was Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. He told reporters that his Pasir Ris constituents used to be concerned about living so near the Lorong Halus landfill.

'It is just wonderful to see the transformation in 15 years,' he said.

Mr Goh Chong Hoon, deputy director of national water agency PUB, said that finding effective ways to combat pollution was one challenge faced in the construction of the reservoirs.

The solution came with the building of the Lorong Halus Wetland on the banks of the Serangoon Reservoir.

The wetland collects water passing through the former landfill and prevents it from flowing into the reservoir. The plants there also filter and clean the water.

In his speech, Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore had started with the conventional approach, by collecting rainwater in protected catchments. But with so many competing demands for land here, it has had to build unprotected catchments in urban areas to supplement the country's water supply.

To ensure that such catchments are safe from contamination, sewerage infrastructure has been installed, old sewers upgraded to prevent leaks and highly pollutive industries moved elsewhere, he said.

Punggol resident Richard Low, 58, is happy with the developments in his neighbourhood.

He said: 'People used to remember this place as a rubbish dump. Now, it is beautiful. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifThe transformation is just stunning.'

New reservoirs to boost Singapore's water supply
Channel NewsAsia 3 Jul 11;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's water supply received a boost with the opening of the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs.

This brings the total number of reservoirs in Singapore to 17.

The reservoirs were created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon. Both reservoirs can meet about five per cent of the country's water needs and will collect rainwater from estates and areas within Punggol and Sengkang, as well as parts of Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.

Together with the Marina Reservoir, they increase the water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore.

National water agency PUB celebrated this milestone on Sunday at a ceremony officiated by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

The plan is part of PUB's strategy to create estuarine reservoirs by damming the major rivers to collect and store as much of the 2,400mm of rain that it gets annually.

Singapore has eight reservoirs collecting water from urbanised catchments in the densely populated city areas and residential towns.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "The use of urbanised catchments required careful land use planning and supporting infrastructure to safeguard the quality of the water.

"For instance, sewerage infrastructure had to be put in place to carry away used water. Old sewers had to be upgraded to ensure that there were no leaks polluting ground water. Highly pollutive industries had to be relocated outside the water catchment areas."

Dr Balakrishnan added that the new reservoirs are significant in Singapore's journey towards water self-sufficiency and sustainability.

PUB said water from local catchments is a pillar of Singapore's water sustainability strategy, along with imported water, high-grade reclaimed water branded as NEWater and desalinated water.

Collectively, these four sources of water are known as the "Four National Taps" to ensure a diversified and sustainable water supply.

PUB said besides enhancing water supply, the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs are set to transform the landscape in north-eastern Singapore.

Envisioned as a "waterfront town of the 21st century", Punggol Town will soon become a commercial and social hub, with a 4.2-km waterway that connects both reservoirs running through the estate and town centre.

Residents can look forward to waterfront living in the heartlands with a myriad of attractive and lifestyle choices lined up along the banks.

DPM Teo said: "It's a multi-used reservoir, recreational area, people can enjoy the water centre here. It's just wonderful to see the transformation within just 15 years."

Water from the Serangoon reservoir is still undergoing desalting process, and will only be fit for consumption by the end of this year.

- CNA/cc/ac

Two new reservoirs to boost Singapore's water supply
Esther Ng Today Online 4 Jun 11;

SINGAPORE - Singapore's water supply has been increased with the opening of Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs, bringing the number of reservoirs here to 17.

Created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon, the two reservoirs will also bring waterfront living to Singapore's north-eastern heartlands.

Along with Marina Reservoir, Singapore's water catchment areas has increased from half to two-thirds of the Republic's land area.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who officiated at the opening yesterday, said the two reservoirs will enhance Singapore's "water self-sufficiency and sustainability".

In addition, the Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs are expected to transform the heartlands of Singapore's northeast.

The PUB is working with the People's Association to run watersports programmes at these reservoirs.

Yesterday, the PUB launched its ABC Waters Learning Trail @ Sengkang Floating Wetland, an experiential learning trail focused on water and biodiversity.

Students from Anchor Green Primary, Fernvale Primary and Nan Chiau High School, some of the six schools which have adopted Punggol Reservoir, will explore the sciences, geography and national education on the man-made floating wetland.

Lorong Halus Wetland, too, along Serangoon Reservoir has become a "popular" recreational hotspot, noted Mr Balakrishnan.

The former landfill not only collects and filters water before it flows into the reservoir, but it has developed into a natural habitat teeming with wildlife and fauna.

Said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who was present at yesterday's opening ceremony: "The concerns of my residents then was that it was an active landfill site, (so) it's wonderful to see that just within 15 years it's now a wonderful recreational area, it's a multi-use reservoir - people can enjoy the water centre here."

Asked about the future of Lorong Halus as the wetlands is not a gazetted nature area and with plans to turn the wetlands into an industrial park, Mr Teo said: "We have to see what we can make use of it for in the long term. In the meantime, it will be a wonderful lung for the people living in Pasir Ris as well as in Punggol, connected by the bridge and united by this reservoir."