PUB, NEA investigating black discharge in Potong Pasir canal

Channel NewsAsia 20 Jan 19;

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB and the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Sunday (Jan 20) said they were investigating black discharge which was seen in a canal at Potong Pasir.

"PUB received a report of discharge in an outlet drain at Potong Pasir Ave 1 at 10.20am on Jan 19, 2019," said a PUB spokesperson in a reply to Channel NewsAsia's queries.

A video uploaded by Facebook user Adam Teeoo showed the black liquid streaming into the canal.

PUB officers and contractors went down to investigate immediately, said the spokesperson.

However, there was no discharge found onsite, as it might have been diluted with the water in the canal, he added.

"Online water quality sensors and in-situ water quality readings showed that water quality is within the normal range."

"We will continue to closely monitor water quality over the next few days," said the PUB spokesperson.

Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, NEA also said that it is aware of the matter and is investigating.

Source: CNA/ad


PUB, NEA investigating black discharge in Potong Pasir canal
Tee Zhuo Straits Times 20 Jan 19;

SINGAPORE - The authorities are investigating a black discharge seen in a canal in Potong Pasir.

Videos uploaded on the Nature Society (Singapore) Facebook page on Saturday morning (Jan 19), and shared with The Straits Times, show an inky black substance flowing into the canal, which then spreads and clouds the water rapidly.

In response to ST's queries, PUB said it received a report of discharge in an outlet drain at Potong Pasir Avenue 1 at 10.20am on Saturday.

"PUB officers and contractors went down to investigate immediately," the national water agency said on Sunday, adding that the investigation was in progress.

There was no discharge found at the site when the officers arrived, as it might have been diluted with water in the canal, PUB said.

Samples were taken from the water in the canal, it said.

"Online water quality sensors and in-situ water quality readings showed that water quality is within the normal range. We will continue to closely monitor water quality over the next few days," a PUB spokesman said.

The National Environment Agency said it was aware of the matter and is investigating.

In the videos, a construction site and a Lian Beng Group crane can be seen immediately adjacent to the canal.

ST understands that a condominium is being built at the site, and that the canal leads to the Kallang River.

Mr Ted Ng, 34, who frequents the area to photograph wildlife, said he spotted the black liquid flowing into the canal twice - once at around 9.30am, and the second time between 10.30am and 11am.

Several residents nearby had also whipped out their phones to take pictures and videos, added the administrator who works in the finance industry.

Mr Ng told ST that he was concerned that birds, fish and otters in the area would be affected. His friend later alerted the authorities, he said.

Veteran wildlife expert Subaraj Rajathurai said that the presence of a black discharge could mean oil or inner soil from the site.

ST has also contacted Lian Beng Group for more information.


PUB contractor to blame for illegal black substance in Potong Pasir canal; NEA taking enforcement action
Tee Zhuo Straits Times 9 Feb 19;

SINGAPORE - A contractor conducting upgrading works for national water agency PUB was to blame for a black substance that polluted a Potong Pasir outlet drain last month.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and PUB said on Friday (Feb 8) that enforcement action by NEA would be taken against UGL (Singapore) over its illegal discharge.

PUB said that it takes the incident seriously and has instructed the contractor to put in place additional engineering controls. The agency has also stepped up supervision to prevent a recurrence.

On Jan 20, ST had reported that PUB and NEA were investigating after a black discharge was seen in an outlet drain near Potong Pasir Avenue 1.

Videos shared with ST had shown an inky black substance flowing into the canal, which then spread and clouded the water rapidly.

In their Friday joint reply to ST, NEA and PUB said they traced the source of the discharge to Woodleigh Waterworks located near Potong Pasir Avenue 1, currently undergoing upgrading works. UGL is the main contractor in charge of the works.

Public records on PUB's website indicate that UGL was awarded $67.5 million on March 20, 2017, to conduct "Process Upgrading and Equipment Replacement at Woodleigh Waterworks".

UGL was washing activated carbon filters used in water treatment from 9am to 10.30am on Jan 19.

"The backwash water was to flow into a holding tank for discharge into the sewers. However, the tank overflowed twice into the nearby outlet drain," the agencies said, adding that each overflow lasted around three minutes.

The black discharge came from fine residual particles from the activated carbon filters.

NEA and PUB said that activated carbon is a non-toxic substance commonly used to remove impurities in the water treatment process, and has no adverse impact on water quality.

It is an offence under the Environmental Protection and Management Act to discharge or to cause or permit the discharge of any trade effluent into any drain or land without approval. Any company found guilty may be fined up to $50,000.

As defined in PUB's requirements for its discharge, "trade effluent" means any liquid, including particles of matter and other substances in suspension in the liquid, flowing out from any trade, business or manufacturer or of any works of engineering or building construction.

Veteran wildlife expert Subaraj Rajathurai said that while the water may be non-toxic for humans to drink, a "proper study" still needs to be done to ascertain the effect on wildlife.

"We simply don't know yet if it will harm animals. If there is oil, for example, it could stick to birds' wings," he said.

He added that even though the overflow was a mistake, there should have been a secondary outflow as a backup to prevent the substance from reaching the canal.

ST has contacted NEA and PUB for more information.