Singapore may experience occasional slight haze: NEA

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 2 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: In its latest haze advisory, NEA said the prevailing northeasterly winds will keep the haze from Sumatra away from Singapore “for the next few days”.

But it cautioned the island may experience slight haze occasionally due to the accumulation of particulate matter, especially in the mornings.

The National Environment Agency said 70 hotspots were detected in Indonesia's Sumatra island on Sunday, with smoke plumes and haze visible in Riau province.

NEA said fair and warm conditions are also expected to persist over the next few days.

It added it will continue to monitor the situation closely, and provide updates.

- CNA/xq

SCDF calls for public to be alert amid rise in vegetation fires
Seet Sok Hwee Channel NewsAsia 2 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: Singapore is in the midst of a dry spell, and the number of vegetation fires has increased.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force is calling on the public to be on alert, and help prevent fires during this period.

Meanwhile, the Nature Society is recommending that the government close some trails in the nature reserves – like how it is done in countries like Australia.

Tony O’Dempsey from Nature Society Singapore said: "In Australia, we have regular dry season and regular bush fire season. Our parks get closed in various stages, depending on the severity of the drought.

“So during the initial drought, we'll close some trails. When the drought becomes extreme and the fire hazard is extreme, then we'd start to close some of the nature's reserves and parks - for the protection of flora and fauna, as well as the human population."

There have been 99 vegetation fires across Singapore in the first seven weeks of the year.

This is compared to 25 fires in the same period last year.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked to conserve water and to use only what is needed.

He said: "Luckily we now have desalination and NEWater, otherwise our reservoirs would be emptying out, and we might be in real difficulty."

Mr Lee noted that the "submerged boardwalk at MacRitchie Reservoir is high and dry. At Lower Seletar, you can see where the water has receded, and the bottom is exposed. The Istana grounds too have not been spared. "

He also posted a link to PUB, the national water agency, for tips on how to save water.

- CNA/xq

Slight haze expected in next few days: NEA
Today Online 3 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE — The Republic may experience “occasional slight haze” for the next few days, particularly in the mornings, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

In its latest advisory last night, it said 70 hot spots were detected in Sumatra, down from 138 last Friday.

Despite the Air Pollution Index in Port Klang, Malaysia, entering the unhealthy level of 121 yesterday morning, the NEA said the prevailing north-easterly winds will keep the haze from Sumatra away from Singapore. However, there might be occasional slight haze due to the accumulation of particulate matter under stable atmospheric conditions, it added, noting that fair and warm conditions are expected here for the next few days.

Last Friday, Indonesia’s meteorological agency warned that Singapore may soon be choking on the same haze that has cloaked Riau province for nearly a month as wind directions change — a prediction at odds with the NEA’s. Forest fires began to burn in Riau last month, prompting Riau Governor Annas Maamun to declare a State of Emergency last Wednesday.

As at 10pm last night, Singapore’s three-hour Pollutant Standards Index was 31 — in the “good” air quality range.

Singapore may get ‘occasional slight haze’ over next few days: NEA
Today Online 2 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE – Singapore may experience “occasional slight haze” over the next few days, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (March 2).

The NEA said 70 hotspots were detected in Indonesia’s Sumatra island today, with smoke plumes and haze visible in Riau province.

However, the prevailing northeasterly winds will keep the haze from Sumatra away from Singapore for the next few days, said the NEA, although there may be occasional slight haze due to the accumulation of particulate matter under stable atmospheric conditions, especially in the mornings.

Fair and warm conditions are expected over the next few days.

The NEA added it will continue to monitor the situation closely, and provide updates.

Town councils get on board with saving water during dry spell
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 1 Mar 14;

Some town councils have started water conservation measures in light of the dry spell, with one suspending monthly block washing at its housing estate.

Chairman of the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council Zainal Sapari said in a post on his Facebook page: “I have asked the town council to suspend the monthly block washing to conserve water. (A) dirty block is an irritation, but using precious water for this purpose is not wise, given the dry spell we are experiencing.”

Over at Jurong Town Council, its Chairman David Ong said he is looking at the possibility of getting the blocks washed every six weeks instead of four.

However, rubbish chutes will continue to be flushed twice a day to maintain hygiene.

While Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council will still be carrying out block washing using high-pressure jet on a monthly basis, its multi-storey car parks will be washed “as and when required” instead of monthly, said its spokesperson.

At Moulmein-Kallang Town Council, water-saving measures it has adopted include mopping the common areas, “where feasible”, instead of washing, and reminding workers and contractors not to leave water running when using high-pressure jets during block washing, said its General Manager Justin Lim.

The town council will be reminding residents to defer activities such as spring cleaning.

“We will continue to explore ways to save water, while ensuring that doing so does not hamper the provision of services to residents,” Mr Lim added.

While Punggol South’s grassroots organisations will be holding their annual charity car wash today, their grassroots adviser, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, said they are mindful of the need to conserve water during this dry season.

“We will be adopting the best practices to cut down on water wastage, just as we have done every year, such as hand-washing the cars instead of using hoses,” he said. WOO SIAN BOON and SUMITA SREEDHARAN