Long-term flood control plan in pipeline

Hoe Yeen Nie Channel NewsAsia 15 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE: Singapore is at a point where it needs to embark on a long-term plan for flood control infrastructure.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said changing weather patterns have caused more flash floods in recent years, and this will be taken into account during planning.

National water agency PUB has commissioned an independent study to assess the possibility of a new diversionary canal off the Stamford Canal in Orchard Road.

Flash floods do not just occur in low-lying areas.

They can happen anywhere, coming and going in mere minutes, but causing hours of frustration.

The flash floods can be caused by several factors, be it inadequate drainage, clogged pipes, or heavy storm flows upstream.

And they're occurring in all areas, almost in a "pseudo-random" pattern, noted Dr Balakrishnan.

"I say pseudo-random because they are predictable, but you can only predict it about 10, 15 minutes beforehand if you look at the radar map of rainfall patterns," he said.

"The point is that it's not so much that it's a local problem itself, but the heavy, intense rain in a specific spot at that point in time, temporarily - temporarily - exceeds the drainage capacity and you get a flash flood."

PUB figures show that in 2009, there were six days of flash floods.

This went up to 13 in 2010, and 12 in 2011.

One way to manage that is to slow the flow of water in some parts, while allowing water downstream to flow away faster.

"If I can just regulate that flow so that for those 15 minutes it doesn't overflow the drain, you would have overcome the problem," Dr Balakrishnan said.

Even as Dr Balakrishnan outlined plans to review and improve the flood control system, he was quick to set expectations right.

"Nature is a very, very powerful force. I will have to say that I'm very sure there will inevitably be some episodes of flash flooding, despite all our best efforts," he said.

"People have to be aware of this; they'll have to take precautions, and what we will commit to, is making sure that everything we can do to prevent it, to mitigate it, and to keep you informed, we will do so."

Among the plans is a new planning code for buildings to be released by PUB in December, that sets higher requirements on flood control.

PUB is also studying a possible diversion canal for the Stamford Canal and retention pond in Orchard Road.

The study began in August, and will be completed in May 2012.

Dr Balakrishnan said he will consult the Orchard Road Business Association, which previously mooted a similar suggestion.

But he said given the cost and limitations of space, whether construction will go ahead is not yet a certainty.

Plans are also under way to expand the meteorological service, and create a network of data points allowing authorities to monitor the impact of rain and floods.

Dr Balakrishnan said he wants the public to get involved too, by providing real-time updates of floods to PUB.

A smartphone application was launched on 10 November, which allows the public to report to PUB on flooding, broken railings or missing sewer manholes.

iPhone users are also able to view these hotspots on their phones.

Dr Balakrishnan acknowledged that social media have become a place for the public to air their frustration about the floods, and saw this as a tool that can help authorities.

"We're not trying to hide anything. If a flash flood has occurred, it has occurred," he said.

"What I want to know is where it is, how deep the water was, what was affected, were there local problems, is there something which I can fix?

"If it's something I can fix, I will fix it. In fact, I should fix it. This is actually, I believe, a model for how Singapore and Singaporeans have to solve problems in the future.

"Through transparency, through sharing, through collaborating, and being prepared to make bold design decisions and appropriate local reactions at the same time.

"I'm actually quite enthused by it because I view it as a real-life experiment in how we're going to organise Singapore in the future."

He added: "It's no longer a defensive -- you know, you make a complaint and I'm trying to deny it or I'm trying to defend it. It's not.

"We're all on the same side, we're all part of the solution."

Flood control and water security are both, in Dr Balakrishnan's view, two sides of the same coin.

The volatile weather that is causing flash floods today could well result in droughts in the near future.

The way Dr Balakrishnan intends to manage this, is to design infrastructure to deal with both purposes.

The Marina Barrage, for instance, can flush out rain water during a heavy storm, while keeping it in the reservoir during a dry period.

- CNA/wk

Flood barriers in demand
Zhao Quan Yin Channel NewsAsia 15 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE: More properties in Singapore are making moves to install flood barriers.

So far, five more properties this year have placed orders for flood barriers to be installed at their premises.

They include shopping malls and private residences.

A flood prevention system may cost between S$100,000 and S$300,000.

Providers of the system said some 30 other properties have asked about installing the barriers.

Seven in 10 enquiries come from shopping malls.

But some of them are facing various issues which are slowing the installation of barriers.

Parafoil product manager Jwee Quek said: "They need to get... financial approval. (Then) they need to get the budget from the management... (followed by) approval from the government."

- CNA/wk

Orchard Rd may get canal or pond to prevent floods
Feng Zengkun Straits Times 16 Nov 11;

A NEW pond or canal could be built in Orchard Road to combat floods.

If built, the canal would divert water from the Stamford Canal, possibly into the Singapore River.

The Orchard Road Business Association has also previously suggested building a water retention tank in the green space beneath Ngee Ann City. This would be connected via pipes to Stamford Canal.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said at a press conference yesterday ahead of the monsoon season that the ministry was looking into these options to prevent floods in the popular shopping district. No further details were given.

Revised drainage guidelines for new buildings next month

National water agency PUB has commissioned a study and will publish the findings by next May.

The area has been flooded at least thrice in the past two years, causing millions of dollars in damage to businesses.

The most serious episode, which occurred in June last year, was caused by intense rain which overwhelmed the Stamford Canal; a second canal would relieve the strain on it.

After the June floods, a 1.4km-stretch of low-lying road was raised, and pop-up flood barriers were installed in front of Liat Towers, which has shop entrances below the road level.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources also convened a panel of local and foreign drainage experts in June this year to look into the flood problem. The panel is expected to publish its findings by January.

Dr Balakrishnan said yesterday that PUB's study would not duplicate the panel's work. 'The panel is looking into solutions for the next decade, whereas PUB's solutions are more for the immediate future,' he said.

He also unveiled several other measures aimed at keeping residents and businesses dry.

On Dec 1, PUB will publish a revised set of drainage guidelines for new buildings in Singapore. These include higher platform and crest requirements to keep water out; buildings must also be able to drain water quickly during intense rain.

The new guidelines are mandatory and building plans that do not follow them will not be approved.

A PUB spokesman said that the agency will work with owners of older buildings to adapt their drainage systems.

Another measure is the creation of a centralised computer system that monitors rain clouds, temperature, wind direction, rain and water levels in canals and drains.

This was among the initial recommendations announced by the panel of drainage experts last month.

Dr Balakrishnan said this would help the relevant agencies to predict the occurrence and impact of storms better. A prototype is expected to be ready by 2014.

The minister said yesterday that Singapore is at a crossroads in its drainage system development.

'Flood prevention measures undertaken in the 1960s and 1970s were successful for a long time,' he said. 'But the past few years have shown that Singapore needs a new decades-long plan for flood control.'

Orchard Road Business Association executive director Steven Goh said the group has not been consulted about PUB's new study.

He said: 'These ideas will affect businesses in Orchard Road, so our input should be considered. We are definitely still keen on having talks to see what else can be done in Orchard Road.'