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The New Paper AsiaOne 22 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE - About 2,000 dead fish were found floating in a large drain near Block 59A, Geylang Bahru early on Wednesday morning.
Witnesses spotted various types of fish floating at around 7am, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Mr Lee, 40, who has been fishing in the area for three years, said the fish could have swum into the drain from a nearby river because of oxygen shortage in the water.
A school bus driver who gave his name only as Mr Tan, 53, said waters in the big drains in the nearby Kallang Bahru area had turned green recently. Others residents feared that if the water is polluted, it may affect the area's biodiversity
David Ee The Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE - The rain may have returned to douse fears of Singapore's garden city becoming brown and filled with haze.
But attracting considerably less public attention have been more than 400 bush fires sparked off since the dry spell began in January.
Many of these burned in isolated, vegetated areas and were extinguished swiftly by the authorities.
However, one that started two weeks ago in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve proved less straightforward and has prompted the Government to call for public vigilance.
Accounts obtained by The Straits Times from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), national water agency PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) have shed light on what the latter said was the reserve's first fire in more than a decade.
The March 5 blaze near MacRitchie Reservoir required all three agencies to muster their forces. It highlighted the challenges of fighting fires deep in our nature reserves and showed how flash fires pose a threat to both visitors and precious flora and fauna.
It broke out about 400m down the reserve's Lornie Trail, scorching forest half a football field in area. Damage was limited mostly to undergrowth, an NParks spokesman said.
The next day, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expressed gratitude that a jogger had reported the fire before it spread farther.
Within eight minutes of being alerted at 6.20pm, firefighters arrived at the reservoir, only to find that the Lornie Trail was too narrow for their fire engine to access.
To complicate matters further, the trail gantry was locked. The SCDF's smaller Red Rhino and two fire bikes had to wait for NParks' staff to unlock it at 6.50pm before entering. Other firefighters followed on foot.
No water was immediately available to fight the fire, as hoses could not stretch the distance from the fire engine. Instead, the crew used powerful compressed air foam from backpacks, canvas beaters and fire extinguishers.
The blaze was put out at 8pm though water was still needed to "damp down" the embers - a precautionary measure that the SCDF takes to ensure fires do not rekindle. For this, firefighters had to turn to the nearby reservoir.
But with levels there lower than usual, they had to board a PUB boat to pump water from a deeper part of the reservoir. The SCDF completed its operations at about 10.45pm, more than four hours after arriving at the scene.
Nature Society conservationist Tony O'Dempsey warned that if a fire were to break out deep within the forest, rather than near the main road like this one did, it would be even harder to put out.
Firefighters would have to rely on NParks' rangers to guide them down forest trails.
Such a fire could also "spread out of control" and endanger visitors, he added.
The SCDF did not respond to queries asking what lessons it had learnt from the March 5 fire.
The three agencies do have "an established contingency plan" to fight fires in nature reserves, said NParks deputy chief executive officer, Dr Leong Chee Chiew. He did not elaborate other than to say that regular drills are carried out.
A PUB spokesman said the lower reservoir level "did not impede firefighting operations".
Mr O'Dempsey suggested that in future, trails passing near fallen dried leaves could be closed during severe dry spells, to protect hikers. "If they catch fire, they can burn very fast," he said.
Mr Michael Allcorn, managing director of emergency response firm Alert Disaster Control, noted that the SCDF is "not a traditional wildfire fighting group".
He suggested that military helicopters be used to fight remote forest fires from the air with "large volumes of water or foam solutions".
NParks' Dr Leong reminded the public that nature-reserve fires are usually triggered by human activities, such as discarding cigarette butts, while refractive litter such as glass or bottles could ignite vegetation under sunlight.
He called on visitors not to smoke or litter, and to alert the authorities quickly if they spot fires.
"Given the vastness of the nature reserves, the alertness and quick thinking of visitors are invaluable to us," he said.
Thankfully, the forest floor is normally moist except during dry spells, he added.
Mr O'Dempsey said that nature lovers here need not fear massive bush fires like those in Australia.
"We wouldn't lose the entire nature reserve, as it's punctuated by swampy areas and streams," he said. "We would have losses of biodiversity, but it's all about making sure precautions are in place."
Feng Zengkun, Environment Correspondent The Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Mar 14;
A NEW Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), to kick in from May, will expose the country's less-than-ideal air quality.
Under this new, higher standard, more days will be deemed "moderate" and fewer days deemed "good". This is because the new PSI will be expanded and is expected to be largely based on the prevalence of tiny and more hazardous pollutants called PM2.5 in the air.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometers or microns in size. These particles are known to cause inflammatory responses both in the respiratory tract and blood vessels. Previously, the incidence of PM2.5 was not directly taken into account when determining the index.
Such particles generally come from activities that burn fossil fuels.
Nanyang Technological University's Professor Ang Peng Hwa was one of several experts who said that if "moderate" air quality becomes the norm here, pressure will be put on local polluters to improve their standards.
That norm would tell people that "at least some of this poor air quality is domestically generated, for example from urban traffic, and not all from fires in Indonesia. That could signal the Government to act on this," he said.
Comparing cities
HOW does Singapore's air quality compare with other cities?
Some experts such as National University of Singapore's (NUS) Assistant Professor Jason Cohen, who is studying how climate change and haze interact, said the level of air pollution in Singapore during non-haze periods is common in many cities. Even haze such as that seen this year is also not unusual.
Other researchers found that during 2007, Singapore's annual PM2.5 level was sandwiched between those of Los Angeles, Tokyo and London, which were better, and Hong Kong, Berlin and Mexico City.
Prof Cohen said, however, that Singapore's annual average may disguise peaks and troughs caused by seasonal monsoon, rain and fires, while other cities such as New York may have more consistent levels throughout the year.
In 2010, a United States-based air pollution research body, the Health Effects Institute, released a report showing that pollution in major Asian cities exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
Like other cities, in recent years, Singapore's air quality standards have fallen below WHO guidelines for three other city-related pollutants - sulphur dioxide, ozone and PM10 (particulate matter up to 10 microns in diameter.
Local polluters
WHILE air quality is determined in part by one's geographical neighbourhood, experts say local polluters play a big role too.
The local emitters of sulphur dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 include motor vehicles, refineries, power stations, shipping and other industries, said NEA.
Many of these same sources also emit nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons which can also lead to ozone being formed.
Sulphur dioxide is a toxic gas, contributes to acid rain and helps to form PM2.5, while ozone and particulate matter pose respiratory risks.
To be fair, the Government has acted swiftly to raise air quality, especially targeting the worrisome sulphur dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 pollution.
Diesel vehicles make up about half of all PM2.5 emissions in Singapore. Since January, all new diesel vehicles here have to meet tighter emissions standards. A higher standard for new petrol vehicles will kick in from April, while those for new motorcycles and new scooters will be tightened from October.
More incentives were also announced earlier this month to encourage diesel vehicle drivers to switch to more environmentally friendly models. Since last year, industries and motor vehicles here can use only diesel with less than 0.001 per cent sulphur.
The NEA said these and other measures also help to reduce the compounds that lead to ozone. These compounds form "an important fraction" of PM2.5, so their reduction will have additional benefits, said experts. Another major source of sulphur dioxide emissions is refineries. The NEA works with the Economic Development Board to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from refineries.
The NEA's data showed that three refineries here made up 71 per cent of sulphur dioxide emissions in 2012. They are Shell, ExxonMobil and Singapore Refining Company (SRC).
Shell and ExxonMobil representatives said the firms had invested in new technology and improved operations over the years to reduce their emissions, and will continue to do so. SRC's upgrading plans include a facility to treat the petrol it produces to under 0.005 per cent sulphur.
An ExxonMobil spokesman said its investments had already helped avoid 215,000 tonnes of emissions each year in the past five years. He added that energy is crucial to society.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said last week that Singapore's power plants have also increasingly switched to using cleaner natural gas.
All these efforts will help Singapore meet several interim WHO standards by 2020. It also aims to meet the WHO final standards at some unspecified point in future.
The way ahead
WHILE these steps are laudable, experts had suggestions for more improvement, particularly in the study of PM2.5. "A good next step (after the new PSI) would be to have the chemical and size breakdowns of the PM2.5 here," said NUS's Prof Cohen.
Knowing what makes up the tiny PM2.5 particles will make it easier for Singapore to determine when its neighbours are imposing the pollution and when local sources are the culprits, he said.
Singapore should also study the chemical processes that take place in the air. While vehicles emit PM2.5 directly, they also emit gases that interact with other airborne pollutants to create new PM2.5.
Research scientist Erik Velasco, from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology's Centre for Environmental Sensing and Modeling, said understanding Singapore's atmospheric chemistry will enable the Government to act to limit the prevalence of such particles.
Dr Velasco had also previously said that air quality management must also take into account seasonal shifts in weather patterns, such as the annual south-west monsoon.
Regional distribution of the pollutants also matters. The NEA now divides Singapore into five regions and gives updates on the six pollutants - PM10, PM2.5, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. For instance, more than half of sulphur dioxide emissions here come from refineries located in the south-west, either on the mainland or offshore. When the wind blows from that direction during the monsoon, residents in those areas could be affected.
While Singapore's hands may be tied when it comes to foreign pollution, there is much it can do for itself.
Once the new PSI kicks in, Singapore will likely have many more days classified as "moderate", rather than "good". This could serve as a rallying point for the Government and the community to press for higher air quality standards. If that happens, everyone in Singapore will breathe a little easier.
Knowing what makes up the tiny PM2.5 particles will make it easier for Singapore to determine when its neighbours are imposing the pollution and when local sources are the culprits.
How the new index works
What is the new Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)? Why will it result in Singapore having more days of "moderate" air quality rather than "good"?
The new PSI index adds tiny, hazardous particles called PM2.5 to its current five "criteria pollutants". The five pollutants currently used are sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10. The last refers to particles 10 micrometres or microns - about one-seventh the diameter of a strand of human hair - or smaller.
PM2.5 is a subset of PM10. It refers to particles 2.5 microns or smaller. They are considered dangerous because they can get into people's lungs to wreak harm.
The pollutant's levels here have exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines in six of the past seven years, partly due to the recurrent haze. Figures for last year are not available yet.
PM2.5 can be emitted by forest fires, vehicles, power plants, refineries, ships and aircraft, and to a lesser extent by construction and land reclamation. Many of these activities are found in Singapore and in cities in general.
Under the new PSI rules, the index will be based on whichever of the six pollutants is the most dangerously concentrated in the air. This is expected to be PM2.5.
The Government says the prevalence of PM2.5 in the air will probably set the new index "almost all of the time". This means many more days will be classified "moderate".
If the new PSI had been adopted, Singapore's air quality would have been "moderate", not "good", for over 90 per cent of the days for each of the past five years.
Based on the existing PSI, 91 per cent to 96 per cent of the days in each of the last five years had "good" air, and 4 per cent to 9 per cent had "moderate" air quality.
If the new PSI had been used, there would have been just 1 per cent to 4 per cent of "good" days in each year and 92 per cent to 98 per cent of the days would have had "moderate" quality air.
After "good" and "moderate", air quality worsens to "unhealthy", "very unhealthy" and "hazardous".
Sharon See Channel NewsAsia 21 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE: Construction companies have said they are prepared to deal with the haze, if it returns.
One company told Channel NewsAsia it has refined its "haze contingency plans" based on last year's experience.
Authorities said on Thursday that the haze may return by late March, when Singapore is expected to enter the inter-monsoon period.
Even when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is under 100, managers at one construction company have been tasked to check workers every morning, whether they feel fit for work.
Dr Ho Nyok Yong, chief operating officer of Samwoh Corporation, said: "When this trickles into 101 to 200, it will be classified as an 'unhealthy' condition. So for those who are healthy employees, they will continue working. But in between, we will ask them to rest more.
"Those who are exposed to the outdoors, we will give them some opportunity to work indoors. So... maybe half of the time, (they will) work indoors and half of the time, (they will) work outdoors.
“We are also restructuring our working sequences in a construction site. We will make sure that they are not over-exposed to this unhealthy environment with the haze."
Dr Ho said workers will be given masks, if the air quality worsens.
And when the PSI hits the hazardous range, all outdoor work will be stopped.
These guidelines are based on the company's haze contingency plan, which is distributed to all its project directors and managers onsite.
Authorities have stressed it is employers' responsibility to ensure workers are deployed in a safe way. Even though the Manpower Ministry does not have a hard and fast rule on when work should cease, if the air quality worsens, the ministry does have the power to enforce a stop-work order, if it finds that an employer is not doing its part.
Dr Ho, who also heads the Singapore Contractors Association, said the association began sending reminders to its 3,000 members since last month.
He said: "Especially from last year's experience, we make sure that we have enough masks, we have a risk assessment form, and the workers are all better monitored. Those working at a height have to be especially careful - visibility is a keyword.
"(We will) make sure that when the (PSI) is very high... they can come in to rest for a while. This is to ensure that during the haze period, everybody is healthy."
Doctors are also advising the public to prepare early.
Dr Tan Tze Lee, senior partner at The Edinburgh Clinic, said: "If you think you need a mask, you should maybe get some supplies now. If you have young children or elderly folks at home who maybe need to breathe cleaner air in the house, you may want to get an air purifier now before the haze comes.
“If you have chronic lung disease like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), please see your doctor to get yourself ready. So be prepared."
Dr Tan is also advising his patients to exercise and keep fit now, while the air quality is good.
He said this would help them build better resistance when the haze returns.SINGAPORE: Construction companies have said they are prepared to deal with the haze, if it returns.
One company told Channel NewsAsia that it has refined its "haze contingency plans" based on last year's experience.
Authorities said on Thursday that the haze may return by late March, when Singapore is expected to enter the inter-monsoon period.
Even when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is under 100, managers at one construction company have been tasked to check workers every morning, whether they feel fit for work.
Dr Ho Nyok Yong, chief operating officer of Samwoh Corporation, said: "When this trickles into 101 to 200, it will be classified as an 'unhealthy' condition. So for those who are healthy employees, they will continue working. But in between, we will ask them to rest more. Those who are exposed to the outdoors, we will give them some opportunity to work indoors. So... maybe half of the time, (they will) work indoors and half of the time, (they will) work outdoors.
“We are also restructuring our working sequences in a construction site. We will make sure that they are not over-exposed to this unhealthy environment with the haze."
Dr Ho said workers will be given masks, if the air quality worsens.
And when the PSI hits the hazardous range, all outdoor work will be stopped.
These guidelines are based on the company's haze contingency plan, which is distributed to all its project directors and managers onsite.
Authorities have stressed it is the employers' responsibility to ensure workers are deployed in a safe way. Even though the Manpower Ministry does not have a hard and fast rule on when work should cease, if the air quality worsens, the ministry does have the power to enforce a stop-work order, if it finds that an employer is not doing its part.
Dr Ho, who also heads the Singapore Contractors Association, said the association began sending reminders to its 3,000 members since last month.
He said: "Especially from last year's experience, we make sure that we have enough masks, we have a risk assessment form, and the workers are all better monitored. Those working at a height have to be especially careful - visibility is a keyword... (We will) make sure that when the (PSI) is very high... they can come in to rest for a while. This is to ensure that during the haze period, everybody is healthy.
Doctors are also advising the public to prepare early.
Dr Tan Tze Lee, senior partner at The Edinburgh Clinic, said: "If you think you need a mask, you should maybe get some supplies now. If you have young children or elderly folks at home who maybe need to breathe cleaner air in the house, you may want to get an air purifier now before the haze comes.
“If you have chronic lung disease like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), please see your doctor to get yourself ready. So be prepared."
Dr Tan is also advising his patients to exercise and keep fit now, while the air quality is good.
He said this would help them build better resistance when the haze returns.
- CNA/ms
Claire Yip, and Chia Shimin The New Paper AsiaOne 22 Mar 14;
The rains have returned. But some farmers in Lim Chu Kang are not celebrating yet.
After an extended dry spell in Singapore that began in mid-January, many have welcomed the downpours in recent days.
The ponds and wells at Jurong Frog Farm, Sunny Horticulture and Kranji Agri Vista in Lim Chu Kang had dried up to far below their normal levels when The New Paper visited them last month.
Mr Derrick Ng, 33, had to stop growing vegetables on his farm at Kranji Agri Vista because they required too much water.
The soil was dry and cracked and the grass was turning yellow at many farms in the area.
The amount of rain since last Saturday has already surpassed last month's total recorded rainfall of 0.2mm.
In fact on Sunday, as of 6.30pm, 52.6mm of rain was recorded at the Changi climate station, the National Environment Agency's (NEA) reference station, reported The Straits Times.
When TNP visited on Wednesday, the rain had partially refilled the ponds and wells at these farms, and was rehydrating the plants and soil.
For some, water levels had returned to their original levels before the dry spell, although others remained half-full or even empty.
Mr Sun Hui, 26, a worker at Kranji Agri Vista, told us he had much less work to do now.
During the dry spell, they had to water the plants thrice a day, but now that the rains are back, they have to do so only every other day.
'BLESSING FOR FROGS'
Miss Chelsea Wan, 30, farm manager of Jurong Frog Farm in Lim Chu Kang, said: "The water is a blessing for the frogs. They need it."
She said that if the drought had continued, they would not have been able to keep frogs any more. Water is critical for frogs as they breathe through their moist skin.
But Miss Wan added that it had only been three days since the dry spell was broken, and that they needed consistent rainfall to truly make a difference.
And although the water levels of the ponds and wells at these farms had risen, most still were not completely filled.
Mr Vincent Ang, 53, a volunteer at the herb garden in Kranji Agri Vista, said the rain had saved their herbs, but continuous rain was also bad for their plants.
"Right now, the water hasn't recovered to its initial levels," he said. "I hope the rain continues, but I don't know how long it will last."
The NEA said on its website that for the next fortnight, several fair and warm days can be expected. On some afternoons, short- duration thunder showers are expected.
Rain brings welcome respite to water woes
David Ee and Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 24 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE - With six days of rain easing water woes caused by two months of dry weather, national water agency PUB is beginning to wind down some of the measures it put in place to maintain the country's water supply.
It is "progressively" reducing production at the country's desalination and Newater plants, PUB assistant chief executive for operations Tan Yok Gin told The Straits Times.
These have been running at almost full capacity for more than a month to supply 55 per cent of Singapore's water.
The amount of Newater being pumped into Singapore's 17 reservoirs has also been reduced, he added, without citing figures.
The PUB had been injecting 35 million gallons of Newater every day to keep water levels healthy.
Water imported from Malaysia is the Republic's other source.
Still, the PUB is keeping an eye on the weather and will respond if dry weather returns, Mr Tan said.
Despite the respite for the previously parched greenery, the National Parks Board is looking further ahead - by taking steps to make plants more resilient.
A spokesman said it will gradually replace small trees that were unable to endure the dry weather with hardier species during its ongoing maintenance programme.
This is part of the board's efforts to ensure that greenery can cope with "increasingly unpredictable weather conditions".
Drought-tolerant species that have already been introduced, such as the yellow flame, common kelat and sea gutta, held up well, the spokesman said.
She added that the dried lawns at the Botanic Gardens are expected to recover, and the lakes there are likely to gradually fill up with rainwater.
On Friday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also posted a before- and-after picture of the Istana lawns on Facebook, showing how the previously brown grass is now a healthy green.
"What a difference a few days of rain make," he wrote.
Assistant Professor Jason Cohen of the National University of Singapore (NUS) said the wet weather during this period was not surprising, especially in Singapore, which has a "monsoon- dominated climate".
Singapore experiences two main monsoon periods - the north-east monsoon, which typically ends during this period, and the south-west monsoon, usually from about May to September.
"Regardless of the likelihood of the El Nino weather phenomenon, the monsoon has to come," he said.
The El Nino weather phenomenon is linked to drought in this region, and American forecasters have warned that it may return this year.
Prof Cohen, from the NUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, added that while El Nino could extend the hot season and drought, "there was no evidence" that it would increase rain in this region.
Meanwhile, short thundery showers are expected on two to four days over the next fortnight, the National Environment Agency said on its website in the fortnightly weather outlook.
Rainfall for this month is likely to be below average, it added.
But more rain is on the cards, with the ongoing dry phase of the north-east monsoon gradually easing and the impending arrival of the inter-monsoon period in the last week of the month.
Avid runner and public relations executive Claudio Chock, 25, is looking forward to wetter weather despite the inconvenience.
"I am less able to go for runs due to the rain, but it still helps because the weather is less hot," he said.
The Star 22 Mar 14;
KOTA KINABALU: An academic studying the economic behaviour of Sabah’s northern communities stumbled upon 60 decomposing turtle carcasses on a remote island.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Dr James Alin, an economist, said he was carrying out research at Pulau Tiga – an island under the proposed Tun Mustapha marine park in Northern Sabah when he smelt a stench.
“The smell was so strong, and after looking around for the source, my guide and I discovered these carcasses last week,” he said.
Dr Alin added that leftover flesh and discarded internal organs were decomposing in some of creatures while others were still intact with only some of their parts missing.
“I also noticed that many of the carcasses scattered at the sites had their scutes (scale-like structures used for making jewellery) removed,” he said.
The lecturer said he was no turtle expert but suspected the carcasses belonged to the hawksbill sea turtle, green turtle, olive ridleys, and loggerhead species, among others.
Dr Alin said there was also a hut-like structure as well as a fireplace near the area where they found the carcasses, believed to have been used by poachers.
He said over his 10 years’ experience doing research on the islands here, he had heard about turtles and other marine life poaching, but had never seen evidence of such claims.
“The islanders even told us about locals and foreigners poaching all the time, some for self-consumption and some to be sold,” he said, adding that they claimed that the authorities were informed about such incidences.
“But these claims were never supported with proof, and the authorities would not investigate. That’s why these activities never stop,” he said.
Probe into turtle carcasses in Sabah
ruben sario The Star 23 Mar 14;
KOTA KINABALU: State wildlife authorities are investigating the discovery of 60 decomposing turtle carcasses on a remote northern island here.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that Sabah Parks officials were probing the discovery by Universiti Malaysia Sabah academician Dr James Alin at Pulau Tiga, an island under the proposed Tun Mustapha marine park.
“Among the things the Sabah Parks will try to determine is where the turtles came from,” he said.
The discovery has raised concerns among various NGOs, including the Sabah Tourist Guide Association, whose president Daniel Doughty said it should be the impetus to gazette the island as a marine park.
“A marine park status will mean more protection for all creatures in its zone,” he said.
Daniel said after seeing the photographs of the dead turtles, he felt that Pulau Tiga resembled a “killing field” of the marine creatures.
“We cannot allow this to persist in our backyard. Something has to be done and one of the first steps is making the area a marine park, which we have been waiting for for at least 10 years,” he added.
According to the Sabah Parks website, the proposed 1.02mil ha Tun Mustapha marine park encompassed more than 50 islands and islets located across Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu districts in Kudat-Banggi Priority Conservation Area.
The proposed marine park has a unique biodiversity that supports a series of complex and linked habitats and is home to endangered marine animals such as green sea turtles and dugongs.
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