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Jun 17, 2010
Choked culvert caused flood
THE heavy build-up of debris trapped in a culvert during Wednesday morning's intense rain caused a blockage in the Stamford Canal drainage system, leading to massive flooding in Orchard Road, said the PUB on Thursday.
It traced the cause to a culvert near Delfi Orchard, following a thorough investigation, which included a hydraulic analysis and physical checks of the Stamford Canal drainage system.
Briefing the media a day after the worst flooding in the prime shopping belt since the Stamford Canal was widened in 1984, Mr Yap Kheng Guan, PUB director for 3P Network Department, said its investigations revealed that the flood was 'most likely' caused by the short and intense rain which peaked twice at 9.30am and 10.30am on Wednesday, which washed debris into a culvert near Delfi Orchard.
The culvert diverts water from Nassim and Cuscaden Road into two sections of Stamford Canal, which runs along Orchard Road.
'The heavy build-up of debris partially trapped in the culvert caused the rainwater to be diverted into only one section of the canal which resulted in rainwater overflowing onto Orchard Road,' said Mr Yap.
The agency will be stepping up the frequency of maintenance inspections of critical closed drains from quarterly to monthly, he said, even though it has already put in place a comprehensive system comprising litter traps, regular inspections and maintenance of drainage system to ensure the drains remain clear and free-flowing.
After every storm, PUB also deploys contractors to check and clear debris from the drains, he added.
Mr Yap said PUB will also install more litter traps in the open sections of drains to trap debris carried into the drains during a downpour. More water level sensors will also be installed along Stamford Canal to enable closer monitoring of unusual peaks and dips in water levels and to enhance investigations.
A whopping 101 mm of rain - about 60 per cent of the normal rainfall in June - led to flash floods in several other areas too, but Orchard Road bore the brunt of it, causing retailers to lose millions of dollars as floodwaters washed into their premises, destroying goods and fixtures.
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jun 17, 2010
Choked culvert caused flood
THE heavy build-up of debris trapped in a culvert during Wednesday morning's intense rain caused a blockage in the Stamford Canal drainage system, leading to massive flooding in Orchard Road, said the PUB on Thursday.
It traced the cause to a culvert near Delfi Orchard, following a thorough investigation, which included a hydraulic analysis and physical checks of the Stamford Canal drainage system.
Briefing the media a day after the worst flooding in the prime shopping belt since the Stamford Canal was widened in 1984, Mr Yap Kheng Guan, PUB director for 3P Network Department, said its investigations revealed that the flood was 'most likely' caused by the short and intense rain which peaked twice at 9.30am and 10.30am on Wednesday, which washed debris into a culvert near Delfi Orchard.
The culvert diverts water from Nassim and Cuscaden Road into two sections of Stamford Canal, which runs along Orchard Road.
'The heavy build-up of debris partially trapped in the culvert caused the rainwater to be diverted into only one section of the canal which resulted in rainwater overflowing onto Orchard Road,' said Mr Yap.
The agency will be stepping up the frequency of maintenance inspections of critical closed drains from quarterly to monthly, he said, even though it has already put in place a comprehensive system comprising litter traps, regular inspections and maintenance of drainage system to ensure the drains remain clear and free-flowing.
After every storm, PUB also deploys contractors to check and clear debris from the drains, he added.
Mr Yap said PUB will also install more litter traps in the open sections of drains to trap debris carried into the drains during a downpour. More water level sensors will also be installed along Stamford Canal to enable closer monitoring of unusual peaks and dips in water levels and to enhance investigations.
A whopping 101 mm of rain - about 60 per cent of the normal rainfall in June - led to flash floods in several other areas too, but Orchard Road bore the brunt of it, causing retailers to lose millions of dollars as floodwaters washed into their premises, destroying goods and fixtures.
