The PUB is calling a tender for an engineering study to identify measures to protect structures such as dams, tidal gates, dykes and spillways at 11 reservoirs.
Channel NewsAsia 27 Jan 16;
SINGAPORE: With sea levels projected to rise globally, PUB is calling a tender to identify ways to protect Singapore's coastal reservoir structures, it announced in a news release on Wednesday (Jan 27).
The national water agency is looking to commission an engineering study to identify measures to protect structures such as dams, tidal gates, dykes and spillways at 11 reservoirs against future sea level rises, it said.
The study will review the design of the existing structures at the coastal reservoirs and assess if they are adequate to cope with the projected sea level rises based on the 2nd National Climate Change Study conducted by the Centre for Climate Research Singapore.
It will also include measures to ensure the structural integrity of these reservoir structures against the projected future sea levels. Some of the possible adaptation measures include raising of tidal gates, installation of buffer beams and measures to retrofit the tidal gates structures, the statutory board said.
PUB’s Chief Sustainability Officer Tan Nguan Sen said there was a need to start looking into preventive measures early to "enhance our adaptation plans to address the impacts of climate change and protect our water infrastructures".
"While the reservoir structures are adequate in addressing the current sea levels, taking on this study allows us to prepare for future sea level rises and take early steps to protect coastal reservoirs against seawater intrusion up to the year 2100."
To cater to long-term sea level rise, the minimum land reclamation level in Singapore was raised by one metre in 2011. This is more than two metres above the highest recorded sea level and is adequate in addressing projected sea levels, PUB said.
- CNA/mz
PUB studying ways to protect coastal reservoirs from rising sea levels
Today Online 27 Jan 16;
SINGAPORE — The Public Utilities Board (PUB) is looking at ways to protect Singapore’s coastal reservoir structures from rising sea levels.
To do this, the national water agency has called for a tender for an engineering study to be conducted at 11 of the Republic’s 17 reservoirs, it said in a statement today (Jan 27).
The study would review the design of existing structures — such as dams, tidal gates, dykes and spillways — and assess their adequacy to cope with projected sea level rises. Dams and dykes are especially important in estuarine reservoirs, where they work as tidal barriers to prevent seawater from entering the water supply.
In addition, the study will also look into measures of improving the reservoirs’ ability to withstand higher sea levels, such as the raising of tidal gates and the installation of buffer beams.
Mr Tan Nguan Sen, the PUB’s chief sustainability officer, said that such studies would help the agency “prepare for future sea level rises” and “take early steps to protect coastal reservoirs against seawater intrusion up to the year 2100”.
Experts say that rising sea levels could have a devastating effect on Singapore, as 30 per cent of the island lies less than 5m above the mean sea level. The first phase of the 2nd National Climate Change Study, conducted by the Centre for Climate Research Singapore last year, predicted that average sea levels could rise up to 0.76m by the end of the century.
The Government has already taken several measures to prepare for rising sea levels in the future: Last week, The Straits Times reported that Nicoll Drive, which runs along the Changi Beach coastline, was being raised by 0.8m, and in 2011, the minimum land reclamation level was raised by 1m. This brought the new level to more than 2m above the highest recorded sea level, well above projected sea level rises.
The study will cover all nine estuarine reservoirs, along with the Pandan Reservoir and Jurong Lake. ASHUTOSH RAVIKRISHNAN
PUB seeks ways to better protect coastal reservoirs against future sea level rise
AsiaOne 27 Jan 16;
SINGAPORE - The Public Utilities Board (PUB) is calling for a tender to conduct an engineering study that can identify possible measures to protect Singapore's coastal reservoir structures against future sea level rise.
Such structures include dams, tidal gates, dykes and spillways at the 11 reservoirs here.
Nine of the 17 reservoirs in Singapore are estuarine reservoirs situated near the sea.
These were created in the last 40 years by damming up the river mouths to create freshwater bodies and flushing out the salty water over time, said a PUB statement today (Jan 27).
The dams and dykes act as tidal barriers to prevent seawater from entering the reservoirs.
Besides the estuarine reservoirs, Pandan Reservoir and Jurong Lake, which are connected to the sea by canals, are also included in the study.
The study will review the design of the existing structures at the coastal reservoirs and assess if they are adequate to cope with the projected sea level rises based on the 2nd National Climate Change Study conducted by Centre for Climate Research Singapore.
It will also look into measures to ensure the structural integrity of these reservoir structures against the projected future sea levels.
Some of the possible adaptation measures include raising of tidal gates, installation of buffer beams, and measures to retrofit the tidal gates structures.
"We need to start early to enhance our adaptation plans to address the impacts of climate change and protect our water infrastructures", said Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's chief sustainability officer.
"While the reservoir structures are adequate in addressing the current sea levels, taking on this study allows us to prepare for future sea level rises and take early steps to protect coastal reservoirs against seawater intrusion up to the year 2100," added Mr Tan.
To cater to long-term sea level rise, the minimum land reclamation level in Singapore has been raised by another 1 metre in 2011. This level is more than 2 metres above the highest recorded sea level and is adequate in addressing projected sea levels.
