PUB ready for rainy days ahead

Agency to step up monitoring of canals, improve drainage as flash floods struck yesterday
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 1 Nov 12;

SINGAPORE - As heavy rains yesterday afternoon triggered flash floods in several areas, national water agency PUB said it will step up monitoring of canals while replacing scupper holes to improve drainage in preparation for the coming rainy season.

Flash floods were reported at five locations yesterday - near the Alexandra Road exit of the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), at Thomson Road towards Kampong Java after the junction of Moulmein Road, along Dunearn Road (junction of Kheam Hock Road), Dunearn Road (near Hillcrest Road), and the Cambridge Road and Tiong Bahru Road junction with Lower Delta Road. Traffic was not affected and the flash floods subsided in about 15 to 20 minutes, a PUB spokesperson said.

Along Balestier Road, interior designer Derrick Tan reported that one of the three road's lanes was impassable to traffic. "For 20 minutes, the water level just kept rising and cars couldn't drive in the extreme left lane," said the 31-year-old.

Over the next three months, PUB said short-duration moderate to heavy thundery showers and occasional gusty winds can be expected due to the start of the North-east monsoon. On average, there are 19 rainy days in November and December, and 15 rainy days in January.

In preparation for the monsoon, PUB has distributed flood advisories to almost 500 residential units and shop-houses in the low-lying areas of Singapore's central, western and eastern regions. Precautionary measures they could take to protect their belongings have also been issued.

A series of reinforcements will also be taken to minimise flash flooding during this period. To improve drainage, PUB will be replacing 6,000 scupper holes - semi-circular holes located on the side of roads - and drain inlets in flood-prone areas with modified drop inlet chambers to better channel storm water into drains.

Installation of the drop inlet chambers are expected to be completed in September next year.

Inspections at major construction work sites will also be stepped up to check for drainage obstructions and to ensure there will be no discharge of silt water.

To monitor surface drains and ensure smooth flow of water, CCTV cameras will be installed at 56 new locations by the end of the year.

Is this the start of the flash-floods season again?
Several areas hit yesterday; waters subsided within 20min, says PUB
Feng Zengkun And Goh Shi Ting Straits Times 1 Nov 12;

FLASH floods hit several parts of Singapore yesterday, even as government agencies geared up for heavy rain during the annual north-east monsoon season.

The first floods hit the Ayer Rajah Expressway after the Alexandra exit at around noon, according to Facebook updates from the national water agency PUB.

Other areas affected included Thomson, Dunearn, Cambridge and Tiong Bahru roads.

The PUB said that in all these areas, traffic was not affected and the flash floods subsided within about 15 to 20 minutes, but some motorists reported stalled cars at Novena and a traffic jam from there to Marymount.

The recent heavy showers may continue in the next few weeks as Singapore is in the inter-monsoon season, which normally lasts until late November, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

During the next few weeks, short and thundery showers are expected mainly in the afternoon, NEA said. After that, the north-east monsoon season is expected to begin, it said. This usually lasts till early March.

During the monsoon season, short and moderate to heavy rain is expected in the afternoon and evening, and about two to four "monsoon surges" are also expected in this period, said the PUB.

These surges refer to stronger winds blowing from the South China Sea, and usually lead to bouts of moderate to heavy rain here, lasting between two and five days.

The PUB said it has geared up efforts to alert residents about possible flash floods. It will install 56 more closed- circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the island by the end of the year, to monitor drains. It has already installed 66 CCTV cameras.

Images from some cameras in flood-prone areas such as Sixth Avenue in Bukit Timah and Orchard Road are available at the PUB website and are updated every five minutes.

The PUB has also distributed flood advisories to about 500 residential units and shophouses in low-lying areas in the central, western and eastern regions. These include details of high tides from this month until February next year. High tides increase the risk of flash floods.

The advisory has tips on installing flood barriers, for example, by using boards shored up with sandbags.

The PUB has also begun to inspect 100 major construction sites to check their drains and make sure they do not discharge silt, which could clog the drainage network. This is in addition to routine checks on each site every five to six months.

Flash flood updates are available via the PUB's social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

People can go to www.pub.gov.sg/ managingflashfloods to sign up for heavy rain and flash-flood warning SMS alerts. To report incidents or to check the flood situation, call the PUB's 24-hour call centre on 1800-284- 6600.