Authorities investigating oily sheen on Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park river

Chan Luo Er Channel NewsAsia 17 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: The authorities are investigating an oily sheen on the Kallang River in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park following reports from members of the public on Tuesday (Dec 16).

When Channel NewsAsia visited the park on Wednesday, the water was largely clear, save for several small patches of oil in the river.

Mr Thomas Tan Kok Hin, who works at the McDonald’s outlet next to the river, said the smell of the oil was very strong on Tuesday. “Fishes were flapping about struggling to breathe,” he added.

Channel NewsAsia understands that the sheen could be caused by sediments from the bottom of the river.

A spokesperson from national water agency PUB said that it received a report of oil sheen on the river at about 6pm on Tuesday and sent officers to the site to investigate. Preliminary investigations by the PUB show that the oil sheen is not likely to be kerosene and they have applied dispersants to disperse the oil.

PUB added that on-site checks show no abnormality in water quality and fish behaviour. Water samples have also been collected for further testing and they will continue to monitor the situation closely. The PUB also assured the public that the quality of raw water in reservoirs is monitored and treated to international guidelines before it is supplied to households.

Oily sheen seen on river in Bishan park
Lee Joon Lei The New Paper AsiaOne 20 Dec 14;

Visitors to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park have been noticing, since Tuesday, what appears to be an oily substance on the surface of the river water there.
Mr Joshua Sng, 34, who is self-employed, said: "I don't know where it came from but it can't be good for the park's ecosystem."

The river smelled like kerosene, said others The New Paper spoke to. One local resident said he could even smell it from his 11th-storey flat.

Residents said they had seen oily patches in the river before, although they were much smaller.

"The substance used to appear in small patches, but the patches were much wider on Tuesday. I even saw fishes leaping out of the water for air," said a resident who declined to be named.

When TNP returned to the scene yesterday, much of the oil-like substances had dissipated.

Officers from the national water agency PUB were also at the scene to take water samples.

NOT KEROSENE

A spokesman said PUB had received a report about the oily sheen around 6pm on Tuesday, adding that it is not likely to be kerosene.

Dispersants had been applied to disperse the oil. Rain yesterday afternoon also diluted any remaining oil.

On-site checks showed no abnormality in the water quality and fish behaviour, the PUB spokesman said.

PUB also said that the water, which flows into the Marina Reservoir, would not have its quality compromised because of the substance.

"PUB would like to assure the public that it has a comprehensive system to monitor the quality of the raw water in our reservoirs, and the raw water is treated at the waterworks to World Health Organisation drinking water quality guidelines before it is supplied to households."