PUB gears up for more rain, possible flash floods

New safeguards include using CCTVs to monitor real-time conditions
Kezia Toh Straits Times 4 Nov 11;

BRACE yourselves for more rain and possibly flash floods from now until the end of January, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

It expects this monsoon season to be wetter than usual, with rain likely on most days.

The weak La Nina currently prevailing could be one factor behind such higher-than-average rainfall, said the agency at a media briefing yesterday. The term refers to a weather phenomenon in which lower sea temperatures in the Pacific induce more clouds to form.

In anticipation of possible floods, national water agency PUB is ramping up precautionary efforts, for example, by installing CCTVs in flood-prone areas.

By next month, it will have added 55 cameras to the current six, which have been mounted along Bukit Timah Road as part of a trial. The new cameras will be at locations such as Claymore Drive and Cuscaden Road in the central area, Boon Lay Way and Commonwealth Lane in the West, and Kampong Buangkok and Chai Chee Road in the East.

The equipment will allow PUB to monitor real-time conditions, and push out information and alerts more quickly to the media and the public.

In addition, PUB is expanding its network of sensors to track water levels at drains and canals, increasing them from the current 93 to 150 by the year-end.

To prevent drains from being choked, it has stepped up drainage maintenance, especially in areas that are flood-prone, that see heavy pedestrian traffic or large amounts of litter, or that have densely planted trees with heavy leaf fall.

Last month, flash floods hit Singapore three times, affecting many areas. At Woodsville Flyover and the junction of Mandai and Woodlands Roads, PUB officers found choked drains.

Rainfall was higher than normal last month, reaching 216.8mm, compared with the long-term average of 193.7mm for the month, NEA figures showed.

Mr Tan Nguan Sen, the director of catchment and waterways at PUB, said intense rain and the existence of low-lying areas could be partially responsible for the floods. Also, as an island, Singapore is subject to high tides.

While the latest measures might not guarantee that certain sections of the island will be flood-free, they could help reduce the chance of floods, he added.

Mr George Madhavan, the director of 3P Network, which oversees PUB's strategic communications and community relations efforts, said: 'What we can do is try our best to have a robust approach to flood and drainage management, put in our best effort and, with the help of the community, share information about ponding or flash floods occurring.'

The public can report flash floods by contacting PUB's 24-hour call centre on 1800-284-6600.

A panel of local and international experts, set up in July to look into flood problems, will finalise its report by early next year.

In making preliminary recommendations on how to handle freak storms, it said the authorities could study weather patterns and collect more extensive information about the rain - before it falls and even as it is falling. The data could then be used to design canals that are better able to handle the consequences of such storms.

Experts also expect this year's North-east monsoon season to be wetter than usual. Typically, the monsoon dominates conditions between December and March, with a dry surge at the tail end that lasts through February and March.

Associate Professor Matthias Roth at the geography department of the National University of Singapore said: 'The current La Nina conditions are expected to strengthen and continue through the winter into next year, favouring above-average rainfall across the region.'

Meanwhile, shopkeepers operating in flood-prone areas here are already preparing themselves for wet weather.

For senior chef Zakir Ullah, 29, this includes raking up leaves and litter every day from drains around his grilled meat restaurant in Little India.

'If it floods, I would have to close my kitchen and business would suffer,' he said.

High-tech help to keep drains clear of debris
Inspection of drains stepped up; new gadgets make clearing easier
Kezia Toh Straits Times 4 Nov 11;

WITH the current wet weather already causing flash floods, making sure drains are not choked is critical.

In flood-prone Little India, for instance, flushing the drains of leaves, litter and soil is now done weekly.

Inspections by the contractors take place daily instead of two to three times a week.

Mr V. Rajandran, manager of the catchment and waterways department at national water agency PUB, said the frequency of inspections depends on the number of trees - more trees mean more leaves are shed - and amount of pedestrian traffic in the area.

In some areas, inspections could take place once a week but during the monsoon season, the pace is stepped up to twice a week. New gadgets have helped speed up the work of clearing drains.

About two years ago, a two-man team would have to squat and peer into dark drains to manually rake up leaves and litter. Today, a rectangular opening at the sides of roads - called a drop-inlet chamber - allows for the use of a 5m-long extendable funnel which works as a vacuum cleaner. A worker opens the grille and sucks up the debris with the funnel, all under two minutes.

For larger closed drains that are nearly 1.5m deep, a worker lowers a camera at the end of a pole into the drain. Images captured pop up on a tablet's screen.

Mr Rajandran said: 'We are looking out not just for debris such as tin cans, garbage bags and plastic bottles, but also possible ponding of water.'

The latter may provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes which spread dengue.

Previously, workers had to manually lift the drain covers, crouch and take a picture for inspection.

Next, the team flushes the drain by inserting a nozzle with a high-pressure jet, placing a net at the end to catch the litter.

Three drains' worth of litter fill up about one-sixth of a large black garbage bag.

The job is usually done at night along the main roads and in commercial areas, and in the daytime in residential areas.

The fight to keep Singapore dry will also get a boost when work to widen and deepen drains along Syed Alwi Road and Kampong Kapor Road is completed by mid-2013.

PUB to install 55 CCTVs at flood-prone areas islandwide
Kezia Toh Straits Times 3 Nov 11;

National water agency PUB is installing closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) at flood-prone areas. Currently, there are six cameras along Bukit Timah Road as part of a trial, and by early December this year, there will be 55 more cameras all over the island.

This will help to monitor real-time conditions in flood-prone areas and allow faster response - pushing out information faster to warn the public, for example.

In a media briefing on Thursday, the environment agency said that higher than average rainfall is expected for this north-east monsoon season, which typically lasts between November and January.

It will also expand its network of sensors to track water levels at drains and canals, and has stepped up its drainage maintenance regime to minimise the risk of flash floods.

PUB to install 55 CCTVs in flood-prone areas
Channel NewsAsia 3 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB is installing 55 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at flood-prone areas in Singapore, mostly in the central, eastern and western parts of the island.

The installation is expected to be completed by early December this year.

PUB said the installation of more CCTVs follows the success of its trial project along Bukit Timah Road, where six cameras were installed.

The PUB said having these CCTVs help it to respond more quickly during intense storms or flash floods.

Tan Nguan Sen, Director (Catchment & Waterways) at PUB, elaborated: "We have to look at the critical locations like major canals....old low-lying areas. So we choose (where to install the CCTVs) based on these two main criteria."

As for other areas, the PUB is working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to use its traffic cameras to monitor real-time conditions in the event of floods.

The installation of CCTVs is part of the PUB's initiatives to step up flood management efforts in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon.

According to the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Meteorological Service,
Singapore can expect more rainy days ahead during the coming Northeast Monsoon season between mid-November this year and end of January next year.

For Singapore, on average there are 19 rain days each in November and
December, and 15 rain days in January.

However, the prevailing weak La Nina in the Pacific Ocean could contribute to a wetter than usual Northeast Monsoon season this year.

To enhance monitoring efforts, the PUB is expanding the network of sensors to
track water levels at various drains and canals.

More water level sensors are being installed and this will bring the total number of sensors from the current 93 to 150 by the end of the year.

The PUB has also stepped up its drainage maintenance regime to keep the drains flowing and minimise the risks of flash floods.

This includes increasing the frequency of inspection and cleaning, especially in the flood-prone areas and areas where there is high pedestrian traffic and litter, and roads densely planted with trees with heavy leaf falls.

The PUB has also gone door-to-door to distribute flood advisories to 371 units in low-lying, flood-prone areas, such as those in Mountbatten Road and Kampong Buangkok.

- CNA/ac/ms/ir

Wet weather affects outdoor businesses
Evelyn Lam Channel NewsAsia 3 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's recent wet weather has not been good news for some outdoor businesses.

Racecraft Infinity at Yishun's Bottle Tree Park said its outdoor racing track is often flooded when it rains, and attempts to shield it with plastic canvas have not helped. It can cost up to S$1,000 to repair the track each time.

Its owner said he has lost 80 per cent of his customers this month.

On a regular weekend, he can earn up to S$5,000 to S$6,000. But with the rainy weather, he's only making about S$1,000 to S$2,000.

The nearby S&E Fishing Services has also seen a 30 to 40 per cent drop in business in the past month. Its fishing pond normally attracts some 50 customers over the weekend, but with the rain, it has been seeing about 10 customers.

The businesses hope things will pick up with the upcoming school holidays. Promotions to reel in customers include adding more fish to the pond and extending operating hours.

-CNA/ac

PUB to install 55 more CCTV cameras in flood-prone areas
Today Online 4 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE - Following a successful trial - in which six CCTV cameras were fitted along Bukit Timah Road to monitor the area during heavy rain - the PUB will install another 55 CCTVs at other flood-prone areas here by early next month.

These CCTV cameras will help to monitor real-time conditions in the areas and allow faster response. The announcement comes ahead of an expectation of more rainy days ahead in the next few weeks.

The Meteorological Service Singapore said yesterday that higher than average rainfall is expected for this north-east monsoon season, which will fall between the middle of this month and end-January.

The north-east monsoon season is characterised by short-duration thundery showers mainly in the afternoon and evening, and about two to four episodes of monsoon surges.

The long-term average number of rainy days is 19 in November, 19 in December and 15 in January.

The PUB has distributed flood advisories to 371 residential units and shop-houses in the central, western and eastern regions. According to the board, these are low-lying areas, some of which are also subject to tidal influence.

Apart from informing the occupants of the possibility of flash floods, information on the precautions they could take to protect their belongings is also provided, it said.

The PUB is also working with building owners on the measures that they could implement to provide additional protection for their premises.

For instance, Liat Towers and Tong Building have installed flood gates.

The PUB will also expand its network of sensors to track water levels at drains and canals and has stepped up its drainage maintenance regime to minimise the risk of flash floods.

Apart from the regular weather forecast, the National Environment Agency will issue warnings when heavy rain is expected.