David Ee Straits Times 16 Aug 12;
INSTEAD of taking the simple solution of a pipe to connect Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs, Housing Development Board (HDB) planners carved out an entire river, giving Punggol residents a lush riverine upgrade. And the accolades continue to flow in.
My Waterway@Punggol has clinched the top honour at the International Water Association's (IWA) biennial Project Innovation Awards, the first Asian project ever to do so.
The project was also honoured in April by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, another first for Asia.
The 4.2km man-made river, which opened last October, meanders through Punggol Eco-Town.
Planners took an ecological approach, determined to minimise environmental impact. Excavated earth was reused, boardwalks were built with recycled materials and special gravel drains were installed to filter and clean surface water before it enters the river.
Dr Gertjan Medema, chief science officer at the KWR Watercycle Research Institute in The Netherlands, was a judge. He praised the project for encompassing practical and human considerations, and commended the HDB for "taking a step back and looking at the whole picture of what they were trying to achieve".
"Nobody would have appreciated a pipe underground," he said.
Mr Paul Reiter, executive director of the IWA, said that inventive thinking was a treat to behold.
"It is sensible. It is just thinking," he said. "The No. 1 ingredient is having a picture of what is possible."
HDB's deputy chief executive officer for building, Mr Sng Cheng Keh, affirmed the board's commitment to sustainably building "rich, vibrant and unique" towns.
It plans to make existing towns more environmentally friendly, starting with a pilot project in Jurong East to introduce water- and energy-saving facilities. The nationwide programme, termed Greenprint, was announced in March.
"Under Greenprint, HDB will introduce the concept of green and sustainable lifestyles to other towns beyond Punggol," said Mr Sng.
Singapore is first Asian country to win International Water Association top award
Channel NewsAsia 15 Aug 12;
SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Wednesday won the Global Superior Achievement Award for the Punggol Waterway project.
The waterway was lauded for its innovation, green practices and novel technologies.
The award is the highest honour conferred by the International Water Association for the most outstanding project in all categories.
It is also the first time an Asian country has clinched the prestigious award since its inception in 2006.
The previous top winning projects were from the United States and Australia.
HDB's Punggol Waterway also clinched the Global Grand Winner in the planning category.
Thirteen prizes were given out for six different categories.
The award ceremony will be held in Busan, Korea, on September 19 in conjunction with the eighth IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition next month.
HDB's deputy CEO (building) Sng Cheng Keh said the award is not just a big win for the board, but also a proud moment for Singapore as it was the first and only Asian country to have won the IWA's highest award.
Projects vying for the top Global Superior Achievement Award were judged based on the following criteria:
Excellence in water engineering
Originality and innovative use of technology
The future value it brings to the engineering profession
The social, economic and sustainable design considerations
The complexity of the situation.
