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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.
Butterflies Galore! : Elbowed Pierrot
from Butterflies of Singapore
Man of Science and Dreams – ST article 21st March 2014
from Raffles Museum News
Anuj Jain awarded the Joan Mosenthal DeWind grant for Lepidoptera conservation! from The Biodiversity crew @ NUS
Chua Chin Wei and Simon Tay Today Online 21 Mar 14;
The drought suffered by Singapore has now been punctuated by on-and-off rainstorms. But while these have brought welcome relief, there is no guarantee that prolonged dry spells will not recur in future. Water supply is under stress across the world and Singapore is no exception.
Climate change, extreme weather events, water scarcity and pollution are real issues impacting on water supply. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report has identified water crises as one of the world’s top three risks this year. Signs are evident across different countries and regions, affecting both rich and poor.
Whether it is California, Brazil or Queensland in Australia, all are facing their worst drought in decades. In Brazil’s case, more than 120 cities are under water rationing, despite the fact that the country is estimated to hold more than 10 per cent of the global freshwater supply.
In Malaysia, after a two-month dry spell, a third phase of water rationing has been announced. It will affect more than 3.6 million people.
As we mark World Water Day tomorrow, given recent events, the overall situation bears review. While there is sufficient supply in Singapore, under current conditions, this cannot be taken for granted. Moreover, while the government has invested in technology and infrastructure, companies and citizens can and must do more.
TECHNOLOGY NOT ENOUGH
Countries are searching for solutions, and more have begun to recognise the merits of water recycling to increase water security. This is technically possible, as Singapore had shown by introducing NEWater in 2002. Questions on costs and perceptions of acceptability are now shifting.
In Australia, a key element in South East Queensland’s urban drought initiative is a recycled water project along the state’s western corridor. This is the country’s largest recycled water scheme and aims to reduce the dependency on sources that would be vulnerable to climate change.
In California, the Orange County Water District has long used recycling to weather the dry conditions better than other regions in the state. Its Groundwater Replenishment System treats and purifies used water to produce drinking water. Orange County provided an early model for Singapore and, this year, its pioneering work won the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.
This approach is now emulated in Australia, as well as in other American states, such as Colorado and Texas.
Yet, recycling can only be part of the solution. Significant investments must be made for a diversified portfolio of water sources. For Singapore, local catchment and reservoirs remain important, as does water pumped in from Malaysia under a long-standing agreement between the two countries. To make Singapore’s water supply more robust, additional new efforts have been made for recycled NEWater and desalinated supply, drawn from the sea.
These new sources of water are more resilient and less dependent on rain. During the recent dry period, desalination and NEWater plants had run at close to full capacity. Indeed, with the fall in water levels at reservoirs, the drought would have been worse if NEWater had not been used to top up and maintain the water stock.
Today, these new sources can meet up to 55 per cent of Singapore’s water needs, and more investment can be expected in the future. Yet, NEWater and desalination are not without costs and constraints.
Energy is a critical element and major cost in their production. And since Singapore does not have its own sources of energy, production depends ultimately on the supply of gas or other fuel from elsewhere. Even with the best current technology, we cannot indefinitely and infinitely increase the supply of water.
MANAGING DEMAND FOR WATER
Therefore, we need to better manage the demand for water. Fundamentally, Singaporeans need to be reminded that water is a precious resource. This is a slogan from the country’s early years and Singaporeans of that generation will remember water rationing.
However, recent years of plenty may have lulled us into complacency. Notably, during this spell of drought and haze, household water consumption went up. Some of this usage is essential but others may seem frivolous, such as the plan to hold a Songkran or water festival next month in Singapore, even though this is not our custom.
Singaporeans and residents need to take ownership in water conservation and change consumption habits. Currently, supplies remain adequate and water rationing is unnecessary. But exercises in rationing might be important to drive home the message anew.
Such exercises could start in schools to expose younger generations to the issue. It could also be carried out systematically across different constituencies, one at a time, to make the point clearer, while avoiding mass disruption. The lesson would be to not take things for granted, and would make people more aware and robust, in case of an emergency.
These exercises must aim to help develop a common understanding about sufficiency and sustainability. We hope the Singaporean “kiasu” instinct would not kick in, causing people to stock water excessively in bathtubs and buckets, which would create unnecessary wastage and potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Rationing exercises must be carried out in tandem with the promotion of better consumption habits.
Per capita water consumption in Singaporean households has been steadily decreasing, from 165 litres a day in 2003 to the current 151 litres. We can, however, definitely do more. Improving water conservation can be spurred by simple common-sense efforts, such as not leaving the tap running unnecessarily, using water-efficient appliances and fittings, or timing our showers.
Companies can also do their part as responsible corporate citizens. More than 200 companies and organisations that took part in the PUB’s 10% Challenge have successfully managed to reduce their water usage by 10 per cent in the past four years. Wafer fabrication plants have also taken steps to stem their thirst.
So have developers when designing our buildings. For example, City Developments Limited has successfully cut down its water usage by using rainwater to test waterproofing in newly-built toilets. At construction sites, underground water storage tanks are used to collect rainwater, which is then used for miscellaneous purposes such as watering plants or hosing down muddy truck tyres.
Such efforts are commendable. While this extended dry spell is still on people’s minds, the public should be encouraged to do their part to conserve this precious resource and cut down water consumption for years to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Chua Chin Wei is Deputy Director and Coordinator for sustainable resources at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Simon Tay is SIIA Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, a non-profit network across the region.
Channel NewsAsia 20 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB said on Thursday that it is progressively scaling down operations and production at the NEWater and desalination plants after the rain over the last few days brought much-needed relief to the country’s record-breaking dry spell.
At the height of the dry spell over the past two months, PUB stepped up desalination to the full capacity of 100 million gallons a day. NEWater production was also raised to more than 100 million gallons a day for industrial use and to top up the country's reservoirs by 35 million gallons a day.
PUB's assistant chief executive of operations Tan Yok Gin said: "With the reservoirs filling up, NEWater injections into the reservoir have been cut back. Water demand has also returned to normal levels. However, should there be a return of the dry weather, operations will be adjusted accordingly."
"The agency will monitor the weather for the next few days before re-opening the water play areas at Marina Barrage, Alexandra Canal, and Lower Seletar Reservoir," Mr Tan said.
"Notwithstanding the rains returning, we call on the public to continue to adopt water efficient habits to conserve water and make it a way of life," he added.
- CNA/fa
Sharon See Channel NewsAsia 20 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE: The government will implement the new air quality reporting system on April 1, a month earlier than planned.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said this is because the current improvement in air quality brought on by the rain could be temporary.
The new Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), which was announced two weeks ago, will incorporate a sixth pollutant parameter, PM2.5 in its reading.
The heavy rains over the past week have been a welcome relief for Singapore which had just gone through one of the most severe dry spells it has ever seen.
However, it seems this respite will not last. The National Environment Agency said the haze could return by late March.
Singapore is expected to enter the inter-monsoon period in late March until May.
During the inter-monsoon period, winds are typically light and variable in direction and they may carry haze to Singapore if hotspots increase in central Sumatra.
Singapore enters the Southwest Monsoon in June, where winds over Singapore typically blow from the southeast or southwest. The Southwest Monsoon is the traditional dry season and Singapore could be affected by haze if hotspots increase in central Sumatra.
Authorities say most climate models are predicting that an El Niño weather pattern may develop over the second half of the year. Depending on the intensity of this phenomenon, Singapore may experience even drier and warmer weather.
Last June, Singapore experienced its worst case of haze in history, when the PSI hit hazardous levels.
Last month, Singapore narrowly escaped the haze thanks to prevailing northeasterly winds, even though the haze recorded in Riau, Indonesia, was even more severe than that in June 2013. The question is, will this year be worse?
Dr Balakrishnan said: "I cannot predict with certainty, but I want to say that because we are worried about an El Niño year, a drier year, and because we have seen that the level of burning in Riau this year was even worse than last year, it means we have to be prepared. We have to prepare for the worst but hope for the best."
For this reason, authorities will start using the new PSI a month earlier than scheduled.
The new PSI may reflect slightly higher readings since it now incorporates six pollutant parameters including PM2.5.
PM2.5 are tiny particles that can travel deep into the respiratory tract and may pose serious health concerns.
Even so, health advisories issued by authorities remain largely unchanged, and healthy individuals can still carry on normal activities as long as the PSI is under 100.
However, authorities are advising employers to plan early.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "We want you to identify who are your vulnerable employees. We want you to work out adjustments to the work schedules so that when the air is not so good, you can decrease the level of physical exertion needed.
"Thirdly, we want you to have all the equipment necessary so for instance, if you need to get masks, this is a good time to go and stock up on the masks because there are lots available. The onus is on the employer to deploy the employee in a safe way, and to provide all the necessary protection."
Dr Balakrishnan reiterated that the government has sufficient N95 masks in its stockpile.
He said the masks are not the solution. What's more important, he stressed, is to prepare early and make adjustments based on the Health Ministry's advisory.
For example, if the air quality worsens when school is in session, Dr Balakrishnan said schools may keep students in school for a longer period for their safety.
"If school is in session and the air suddenly deteriorates, we will not dismiss the students and ask them to find their own way home in times of high pollution. The students will be safer staying on in school in a controlled, safe environment, and that's what the MOE (Ministry of Education) intends to do."
- CNA/fa
New air quality reporting system from April 1
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 21 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE — The new air quality reporting system — which will come into effect on April 1, one month ahead of schedule — will better reflect visibility levels during a haze, as it will incorporate levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, into the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).
In other words, the new three-hour PSI, which will be based on PM2.5, will pass the “window test”, as an official from the National Environment Agency (NEA) put it yesterday.
During the severe bout of haze last year, there was criticism from some members of the public that the PSI readings did not correspond with what they saw outside their windows.
The new reporting system was announced in Parliament last week by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.
Yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said at a press conference that the Government will bring forward the roll-out of the new system in view of the earlier onset of hazy conditions this year. While the showers that Singapore experienced over the past few days have improved air quality, he said this might be temporary as slash-and-burn activities in Indonesia had begun earlier this year than in the past.
He said: “The haze in Riau that was present two weeks ago was worse than it was last year — that means the fundamental economic forces that lead to illegal clearing of land and deforestation through burning are still present.”
Nevertheless, he noted that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had recently gone to Riau to address the situation. He said: “If they take his instructions seriously, maybe, we can hope for a better situation.”
The new PSI will be based on the worst of six pollutants — sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10 and PM2.5 — to give a better picture of Singapore’s overall air quality. The NEA will report the three-hour PSI based on PM2.5, instead of PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter below 10 micrometres) to satisfy the “window test” in periods of smoke haze, said its Chief Scientific Officer Indrani Rajaram.
Hourly updates on PM2.5 levels in the air will also be published, so the public can take necessary precautions.
An NEA spokesperson said the three-hour PM2.5 readings will reflect more recent levels of PM2.5 and should “correspond more closely with what one sees”, as finer particles in PM2.5 scatter more light.
National University of Singapore air-pollutants expert Jason Blake Cohen said some of such fine particulate matter also absorb light, thus reducing visibility. Asst Prof Cohen said the new method of deriving PSI should give the public more clarity and confidence, as it is a widely accepted standard that can make it easier for Singaporeans to compare air quality with other cities in the world.
The NEA spokesperson said that, while the three-hour PSI might be useful to help the public decide whether to proceed with or postpone their immediate activities, it is not as useful in helping to plan for activities to be held later, such as the next day. “For this, the public may wish to take reference from the haze forecast issued by the NEA based on the 24-hour PSI.”
Under the new reporting system, the Republic may experience many more days of “moderate” air quality, despite the air being no more polluted than in the past. Accordingly, the Health and Manpower ministries have refined, respectively, the haze health advisories and workplace guidelines for employers.
Representatives from both ministries and the Ministry of Education reiterated that contingency plans are in place, should the haze return.
On whether a stop-work order will be issued if the haze reaches a certain level, Dr Balakrishnan reiterated that while the health and safety of Singaporeans are the priority, the country cannot “shut down totally in the face of haze”. He noted that the authorities have the power to intervene if an employer is not behaving responsibly and ensuring the safety of workers.
Dr Balakrishnan said that, compared with last year, when the PSI reading hit a record 401, he is confident the Government is “far more prepared and ... will be able to ride through” the situation should the haze worsen this year. With the Government, retailers and People’s Association having stockpiles of masks, he said this should “not be a point of anxiety”.
While the North-east Monsoon has kept haze from Sumatra away from Singapore, the coming inter-monsoon season with lighter and variable winds and the South-west Monsoon, which typically begins in June, could lead to haze coming in Singapore’s direction.
“We still have to be on guard against the recurrence of haze,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
Worse haze to come
Zul Othman The New Paper AsiaOne 23 Mar 14;
The rain over the past week has brought some relief from the haze plaguing Singapore.
But as the haze in the region is more severe compared to last June's episode, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are bracing for conditions to worsen in the months ahead.
At a media briefing on Thursday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said while the rain may have "improved" the situation brought on by a prolonged dry spell, the improvement is also likely to be "temporary".
In view of this, both MEWR and NEA are rolling out the new Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) a month earlier than scheduled.
It will come into effect from April 1 instead of May 1.
The new air quality reporting system incorporates PM2.5 into the current Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) as its sixth pollutant parameters.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometres 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.
'UNUSUAL'
Dr Balakrishnan said this year's haze has been "unusual" and the situation in Riau in Sumatra, Indonesia, has been severe since last month.
Slashing and burning in Indonesia, which is usually done between the June and September dry season to clear land, also began earlier this year.
While prevailing northeastern winds in February had kept most of the haze away from Singapore, most climate models are projecting an El Nino weather phenomenon - linked to dry weather in the region - to develop in the second half of 2014.
The El Nino phenomenon is also "usually associated with aggravated haze", added Dr Balakrishnan.
With these factors in mind, there is a need to accelerate Singapore's preparations against transboundary haze, he added.
The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) have revised haze health advisories for the public and workplace guidelines for employers to protect their workers.
For instance, MOM has advised employers to identify workers who may be more affected by the haze.
Employers are also advised to make changes to work schedules so that those employees can be redeployed should the haze worsen.
Optimists say that a Palm Island in Marsaxlokk harbour opposite the new gas plant could perhaps be convenient for berthing massive LNG carriers away from urban areas where otherwise they be perceived as problematic and residents are complaining – please, not in my backyard.
George M. Mangion Malta Today 20 May 14;
During a business trip to Singapore last month, I was fascinated by the island’s success in many sectors, notwithstanding the fact that it possesses no mineral wealth and is a densely populated country which has acted as a safe haven when the world was hell striven by the start of the recession in 2007. Singapore is roughly twice the size of Malta but houses over 5 million citizens in a densely populated area.
It comes as no surprise that over the past decades Singapore has invested heavily in land reclamation for large infrastructure projects such as a massive Freeport and construction of an international airport. So how can Malta ever reach the high GDP per capita on a tiny island where space comes at a premium and land prices are already very expensive (and scarce)? The probable answer is the continuation of land reclamation from the sea.
The topic recently hit the headlines after the prime minister announced the government’s intention to invite investors to participate in such ventures. As can be expected, the subject is highly contested by environmentalists and NGOs who focus their thrust against land reclamation, saying such measures will upset the ecological, scientific, archaeological habitat amid other cultural values.
It follows that due to Malta’s size, high population density and unique island biodiversity, any political announcements to encourage land-use are resisted by the environmental lobbyists, but of course welcomed by property magnates. The former base their complaints on the island’s relatively high urban land cover, while they refer to a high proportion of used dwellings (about 70,000) which in turn raises questions about the overall efficiency of land use when viewed in the context of the latest census relating to residential occupancy.
This bone of contention needs to be counterbalanced by the reuse of abandoned dwellings to accommodate social housing for the elderly and potential redevelopment of some of the dwellings, which are old and unfit for habitation. Of course this is what the Housing Authority is doing: inviting developers to come forward to form a joint venture with which to share the development costs with government so as to rehabilitate such derelict houses.
This is a medium-term solution but in the meantime, in my opinion, there is nothing to stop us from attracting new investment to emulate Singapore’s success in land reclamation.
There was much negative feeling against the alternative use of a mountain of inert material at Maghtab and some had suggested that due to its proximity to the sea at Qalet Marku, such building debris could be deployed to create a small island as land reclamation given the water level there is relatively shallow. This idea found strong opposition from a number of environmentalists. Naturally the construction lobby is very much in favour of sustainable work linked to large-scale land reclamation work, which on its own can secure jobs and perhaps qualify for EU funding.
The prime minister is encouraging the private sector to come forward with ideas and this is welcome. Any large-scale reclamation will inevitably stimulate the regeneration of key areas such as the St Julian’s inner creek area and Mellieha bay, but designs have to blend and respect with great sensitivity for its aesthetic value and historical significance with the functional considerations of a busy tourist centre with a modern promenade supporting multifarious commercial, cultural and recreation activities.
The question one may be asking at this stage is what is the alternative use of reclaimed land?
The answer is not very difficult to give since with a bit of imagination one can mention a number of creative projects that can be accommodated thus relieving pressure from building in outside development zone (ODZ) areas. As stated earlier the island is not growing in size but quite the contrary there is constant coastal erosion and rising sea levels. Consider for a while the ambitious cruise liner industry in Valletta and Cottonera being both construed on reclaimed land and, therefore, in this specific context, how vital it is for environmentalists to carefully weigh the advantages of better paid jobs benefitting from a heavy investment, both private and public, to reclaim land from the sea.
Land reclamation is not new to the Maltese islands and here I can mention with pride the success of the Marsa Sports Grounds, built entirely on reclaimed land, the sea originally reaching inland as far as Qormi since ancient times; the massive Freeport terminals in Birżebbuġa (employing thousands) and the platform on which the Delimara power station stands.
There will always be a price to pay when inert waste, usually from construction and demolition sources, is arbitrarily dumped into the sea for land reclamation. The hardest hit, from a purely environmental standpoint, is obviously the seabed, which not only loses its integrity in terms of physical characteristics but any biodiversity thriving on a particular site can be wiped out altogether. The obvious collateral damage to the Posidonia oceanica meadows (seagrass) that lie over large tracts of seabed at various depths around the coastline merits serious consideration as the ecological significance of such meadows is well known in terms of stabilising the seabed and serving as nurture grounds for an immense variety of marine organisms.
So now that the government is inviting investors to come forward to participate in this ambitious project, what are the environmental and economic implications of engineering an artificial island on a much smaller scale to the world famous Palm Island in Dubai? Could this pipedream materialise now that the Prime Minister has fired the starting gun? It is certainly a controversial topic that has long grasped the imagination of many architects and challenged the capabilities of structural engineers trained at our University.
Optimists reply that a Palm Island in Marsaxlokk harbour opposite the new gas plant could perhaps be convenient for berthing massive LNG carriers away from urban areas where otherwise they be perceived as problematic and residents are complaining – please not in my backyard.
Another idea is an artificial island for the purposes of constructing a mega-solar power station ostensibly to qualify for the EU funds given that twenty percent of our energy has to be derived from clean sources by 2020. So to conclude is it pie in the sky or a incredible dose of political audacity by Prime Minister as he is trying to start solving the dilemma of a shrinking island? If he succeeds, then that will be the day when Malta may rise as a phoenix out of the water and share the success of a quasi-Singapore in the Med.
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