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Marina Barrage and other flood alleviation schemes

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By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 December 2007 2135 hrs
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SINGAPORE: As heavy rainfall is expected this month, PUB has stepped up the progress of its projects to prevent flooding.

It says at least eight of such projects will be completed this month.

Joan Road, off Thomson Road, is one area that is prone to flooding – that is why it is one of the locations where the PUB project is being carried out.

The works involve widening and deepening the existing drain to improve water flow.

Other locations for such projects include the junction of Mountbatten Road and Tanjong Katong Road, as well as Maple Avenue in the Bukit Timah area.

Ongoing works are also located at the junction of Cuscaden Road and Tomlinson Road, Kramat Lane, Bedok North Avenue 3, Commonwealth Avenue and Sims Avenue.

The biggest flood alleviation project is at the Marina Barrage. PUB says it will alleviate flash floods in the low-lying city areas when it is completed in mid-2008.

About 100 of PUB's staff and contractors are on high alert this monsoon season to make sure there are no blockages in drains that could affect water flow.

In the last 30 years, PUB has invested more than S$2 billion on drainage improvement works.


- CNA/so
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Re: Marina Barrage

Afternoon and late evening showers will be frequent during the north-east monsoon period, which is expected to begin in November and last till January, said the National Environment Agency's Meteorological Services Division yesterday.


This is only July and not the monsoon season that is from Nov to Jan. Just imagine how much worse it's going to get during the rainy season :eek:

If the PAP don't want to loose more votes, they're going to have to hold the elections before Nov
 
Flash floods in several areas to be resolved soon: PUB

At least eight flood alleviation projects will be completed or be will be close to completion in Dec, said PUB. -ST

Wed, Dec 12, 2007

The Straits Times

AT LEAST eight flood alleviation projects will be completed or be will be close to completion in December, said PUB in a statement on Wednesday. It pointed out that it has been putting such projects on high gear, in anticipation of the intense and heavy rainfall expected this month.

'We have a 5-year drainage construction programme but many of these had been brought forward to alleviate flash floods in localised spots,' said Yap Kheng Guan, PUB's Director of Drainage.

PUB noted that the situation has improved in several areas, with the completion of new drainage works.

At Bedok North Ave 3, temporary flood alleviation measures were taken after it was hit by heavy rains in April 2006.

More drainage holes were created to allow quicker flow of water into the drains. Permanent drainage works have now been completed with the widening of the roadside drains as part of the redevelopment works in that area.

At Maple Avenue in the Bukit Timah area, the drainage system was improved and completed last month.

A temporary dam was built at the junction of Cuscaden Road and Tomlinson Road after a flash flood in Jan 2007. This is to slow down the water flow to the lowest point of the road where water tended to collect.

PUB said the long-term solution is to raise the road level there - which will be completed in December. A wider drain is also being constructed. Even though works are still ongoing, PUB said it has already brought flood relief in that area as rain water is drained away more quickly.

At Kramat Lane, the road level will be raised and construction works to widen and deepen the existing drain will be completed by December. In the past, water used to collect at a depressed section of the road.

At the junction of Mountbatten Road and Tanjong Katong Road - another flood-prone area - drainage works will also be completed in December.
Construction works have been ongoing since Aug 2005 at Commonwealth Avenue and the S$12.8 million canal is now at the 85 per cent completion mark.

The area used to flood during heavy and intense rain due to the small capacity of its current drain.

At Joan Road, which lies in the Caldecott Hill valley, its natural terrain causes water to collect during heavy and intense rain.

PUB said intermediate flood alleviation works are in progress, with the widening and deepening of the existing drain, doubling its capacity. Although this has not been completed, it has improved the flow of rainwater.

Over at Sims Avenue, a larger drain is being built. In the meantime, a temporary pump has been installed to divert rain water to a larger drain nearby.

However, PUB noted that the biggest flood alleviation project is the Marina Barrage which will alleviate flash floods in the low-lying city areas.

Conceived as a three-in-one project, Marina Barrage will also create a new reservoir in the city and become a hotspot of recreational activities when completed in mid-2008.

A series of nine crest gates will work in harmony to release water from the reservoir during heavy rains and should the rains coincide with high tide, seven giant pumps will channel the water out to the sea.

In the meantime, about 100 of PUB's staff and contractors are on high alert this monsoon season - inspecting the drains everyday to make sure there are no blockages that could impede water flow.

'Blockages in drains are the most common cause of localised flash floods. We have often pulled out rags, styrofoam boxes and all sorts of rubbish from choked drains,' said senior technical officer Mr Thia Soon Swee, 59.
In the last 30 years, PUB has invested more than $2 billion on drainage improvement works.

As a result, the flood-prone areas have been reduced from 3,200 ha in the 1970s to 124 ha today. With the completion of Marina Barrage, this will be further reduced to less than 100 ha.

High tides

Earlier, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement that afternoon and evening showers, with heavy thunder at times, can be expected from Wednesday till Friday.

With high tides of at least three metres predicted over the next two days and between the Christmas week of Dec 23 to Dec 28, NEA warns that flash floods could occur in low-lying areas.

These include Chinatown/City area, Tanjong Katong area, Geylang area, Lorong Buangkok and areas off Jalan Besar.

The high tides are expected to occur sometime in the morning - as early as 9.30am - or midday, as late as 1.30pm, NEA says in a statement.

For more information and updates on the weather, the public can log onto www.nea.gov.sg.
 
Yap Kheng Guan, Director, 3P Network, PUB

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Mr Yap Kheng Guan is the Director of 3P* Network in PUB, the national water agency of Singapore. As the director overseeing the strategic communications and community relations efforts for PUB, Mr Yap is responsible for enhancing the organisation’s public image and building strong relationships with its stakeholders.

In 2004, PUB started introducing more activities at the reservoirs to encourage people to bond with water and develop a relationship with water. A new tagline, Water For All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy was launched in early 2005 to encapsulate this new approach in water management.
In tandem with the new people-oriented approach in water management, Mr Yap drove the development and execution of a strategic communications programme to create a buzz about water and make water hip to the masses. A series of community programmes and initiatives were also introduced to get people to do their part for water.

<o></o>
Under his stewardship, PUB’s presence in the media grew more than three-fold from 2005 to 2007. PUB’s corporate communications programme took the top honours in the 2008 International Public Relations Association ( IPRA) Golden World Awards for Excellence in Public Relations as well as the Excellence Award for Outstanding Overall Corporate Reputation Enhancement at Singapore’s PRISM Awards.

<o></o>
In addition to his communications function, Mr Yap is also the director in charge of the Marina Barrage. This is a unique 3-in-1 project that will boost the nation’s water supply, alleviate flooding in the low-lying city areas and its freshwater lake will become a lifestyle attraction right in the heart of the city centre.

Mr Yap is also involved in PUB’s latest initiative to transform <st1:country-region>Singapore</st1:country-region>’s network of utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs into active, beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes, making <st1:country-region><st1></st1></st1:country-region>
<st1:country-region><st1>Singapore</st1> </st1:country-region>a city of gardens and water. :eek:

 
Yap Kheng Guan




yap_kheng_guan.png

Keynote: From Scarcity to Sustainability – Singapore’s Water Story
Abstract:

Singapore has come a long way in water management in just over four decades to overcome water shortages, flooding and pollution in its rivers in the 1960s and 1970s. Forward planning, careful management of water resources, and adequate investment in infrastructure and effective technology have been critical in propelling Singapore towards global hydrohub status.

Today, the nation has built a robust, diversified and sustainable water supply from four different sources known as the Four National Taps (water from local catchment areas, imported water, reclaimed water known as NEWater and desalinated water).

As the national water agency, PUB spearheads water management efforts to ensure sufficient water for all even taking a step further by encouraging stewardship. PUB urges all Singaporeans to take greater ownership of our reservoirs and waterways and value our water resources by keeping the waters in the reservoirs and catchment areas clean. Known as the 3P (People, Public and Private sectors) approach, this is embodied in PUB’s tagline – Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy.

The multi-faceted attraction of our water assets is best embodied in the world renowned, Marina Barrage. It is the result of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s vision nearly two decades ago when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir right in the urban city, which now also serves as a flood control infrastructure and a water activities hub.

The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme also shares the same spirit of animating our water ways with activities, transforming Singapore into a vibrant City of Gardens and Water. Singapore’s extensive network of reservoirs and waterways, comprising 15 reservoirs, 32 major rivers, and more than 7,000 km of canals and drains provides a tremendous opportunity to create new, naturalised spaces for people to enjoy and learn more about the environment.

Mr Yap Kheng Guan, Director, 3P Network Department, will share more about Singapore’s water management strategy and 3P engagement including the exciting water projects he has been a part of, including the Marina Barrage and ABC Waters Programme. Mr Yap has 35 years of experience with PUB and is the director in charge of PUB’s Marina Barrage project which was completed in 2008, creating Singapore’s unique reservoir in the city. As Director, 3P Network Department, Mr Yap takes on the responsibility of implementing PUB’s new approach in cultivating in Singaporeans a closer relationship with water and a sense of ownership towards our water resources.

Biography:

[FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]CEng, PEng, PPA (G), PPA (P), FIES[/FONT][FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

[FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]YAP KHENG GUAN has been Director, 3P Network Department, PUB, since 1 October 2004. He is the director in charge of PUB’s Marina Barrage project which was completed in 2008, creating Singapore’s unique reservoir in the city.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]Mr. Yap is also involved in Singapore's latest initiative to transform its waterways into active, beautiful and clean waterbodies. The program aims at turning Singapore’s network of utilitarian canals, rivers and reservoirs into attractive lifestyle venues for the community to enjoy. As Director, 3P Network Department, Mr Yap takes on the responsibility of implementing PUB’s new approach in cultivating in Singaporeans a closer relationship with water and a sense of ownership towards our water resources. Together with PUB’s efforts to supply water through the four national taps, the 3P’s involvement is critical in ensuring the long term sustainability of our water resources, as embodied in the PUB’s tagline, “Water for all: Conserve, Value, Enjoy”.[/FONT][FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

[FONT=Helv, Arial, sans-serif]During his years of service, he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1986, the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1997 and the National Long Service Medal in 2001.[/FONT]
 
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Straits Times 7 Feb 07

S'pore set to be city of gardens and water:eek:

Plan to transform rivers, reservoirs, canals to recreation centres unveiled
By Tan Hui Yee

SINGAPORE is on the way to becoming the Water City, with the unveiling of an ambitious plan to transform its reservoirs, rivers and canals into recreation centres over the next 10 to 15 years.

Already, around 20 projects are in the pipeline, encompassing some of the 150 locations earmarked for possible makeovers.

These first 20 projects promise to turn bare concrete canals into landscaped channels and some reservoirs into watersports havens over the next five years. There is even a plan to create an underground park connector.

The massive undertaking by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) - called the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters programme - aims to encourage water conservation by allowing more access to the water's edge as well as water-based activities.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who opened an exhibition featuring some of the future projects at the Asian Civilisations Museum yesterday, said the project would help realise the concept of Singapore as a 'city of gardens and water'. Integrating water features into new developments is already a priority, seen in projects like the upcoming 94ha gardens ringing Marina Bay and the Housing Board's first waterfront flats on Bendemeer Road.

Mr Lee said: 'In the past, we used to protect our water resources by keeping people away from them. Now, we bring people closer to the water so that they will enjoy it and cherish it more.'

Singapore has a large network of 14 reservoirs, 32 of the larger rivers and more than 7,000km of canals and drainage channels.

Under the first phase of the programme announced last year, the PUB said it was spending $23 million to upgrade the Bedok and MacRitchie reservoirs and a stretch of Kallang River at Kolam Ayer.

Yesterday, the Board announced that at least 20 more projects will be carried out over the next five years. The cost of the work has yet to be finalised, as detailed designs will depend on feedback from the public.

Two new reservoirs will be created by damming Sungei Serangoon and Sungei Punggol. Together with the upcoming reservoir in Marina Bay, it will increase Singapore's water catchment area from the current half of its land area to two-thirds.

Other highlights include a water stage for outdoor performances and a bridge spanning Lower Seletar Reservoir, a boardwalk on Rochor Canal suitable for street bazaars, and a park connector along Sungei Bedok that travels under Laguna National Golf & Country Club.

The PUB is also keen to get the public as involved as possible.

It collects about 15 tonnes of litter daily from float-booms installed at various river mouths, a figure it hopes will be cut if people realise the rubbish they leave behind will directly pollute their drinking water.

The president of the Nature Society, Dr Geh Min, said: 'Civil society - not just organisations, but individuals - has to take more responsibility for keeping our drinking water clean, to protect it and appreciate it as a source of life.'

Grassroots leader Roy Cheng from Bishan, where a concrete canal will be turned into a river with landscaped banks, advocated the idea of residents 'adopting' the waterways near their estates to keep them clean and make activities there safe.

He said: 'It's important for residents to feel that they own the place.'
[/FONT]
 
Channels of Communication

For successfully bringing water issues to the man in the street in fun and entertaining ways, PUB picked up a series of awards in recognition of its innovative communications campaign.

42a.jpg
A hit with young children, PUB’s mascot Water Wally is an effective branding tool.
42b.jpg
Mr Yap Kheng Guan, PUB’s Director of 3P Network, accepts the Golden World Award in London.



To raise water consciousness among Singaporeans and to encourage all to do their part in ensuring water sustainability, PUB embarked on a communications campaign in 2005, in tandem with its paradigm shift in water management. Proving that far from being a dry issue, water can be fascinating, entertaining and even glamorous, a slew of strategic communication initiatives were unveiled, from the creation of a loveable mascot to glossy street magazines and even a celebrity-driven TV game show.


An evaluation study by AC Nielsen in November 2007 revealed that 94 per cent of respondents felt they had a part to play in Singapore’s water management, an increase from 88 per cent in 2005. Media coverage also expanded, with the number of PUB For successfully bringing water issues to the man in the street in fun and entertaining ways, PUB picked up a series of awards in recognition of its innovative communications campaign. stories up by 79 per cent in 2007.


In recognition of PUB’s public communication efforts, the national water agency scored double honours at the Public Relations in the Service of Mankind (PRISM) Awards, held in March 2008. PUB’s corporate communications programme won the Excellence Award for Outstanding Overall Corporate Reputation nhancement Programme. The award recognises PUB’s innovative communications methods, including the creation of mascot Water Wally, and its proactive media strategy to raise water consciousness and its public profile. PUB’s Chief Executive Mr Khoo Teng Chye received the inaugural Outstanding Public Relations Champion of the Year award, which recognises PR-savvy CEOs and executives who have made outstanding contributions to public relations activities and developments within their organisations.


Fresh from bagging two PRISM Awards, PUB’s corporate communications programme received further accolades when it won the prestigious Golden World Award for Excellence in Public Relations for its entry ‘From Bland to Glam: Water Makes a Splash in Singapore’. Not only did it come up tops in that category, it was also named the Overall Grand Prize winner of the year. The judges were impressed by the research, creativity and execution of the programme in persuading Singaporeans they had a major role to play in protecting their water supply.


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PUB mascot Water Wally was conceived to give water a face.

Organised by the London-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the Golden World Awards honour extraordinary public relations initiatives throughout the world. PUB was the only winner from Singapore. “Communications on water issues are becoming increasingly important with water taking centrestage in many parts of the world,” said Mr Yap Kheng Guan, PUB’s Director of 3P Network. “As a public agency, PUB has broken new ground with its innovativecommunications methods. The approach is refreshing, and a departure from what we would usually expect from a topic that is so serious.” Mr Yap received the awards in London from Mr Robert Grupp, President of the IPRA.


“The IPRA Golden World Awards recognise innovative and successful contributions in the field of public relations. As the overall winner chosen from 28 category winners from 117 finalists out of 404 entries from more than 50 countries, the award truly distinguishes PUB among its peers in the international public relations community,” said Mr Grupp.
 
Thanks Sam, great work and paints a comprehensive and consistent picture.

I am actually intrigued by the Lee Poh Onn article. He mentions that the 3 highest rainfall as 1978, 1969 and 2006 when Orchard Road did not flood and the barrage did not exist yet note his conclusion. It comes down to Climatic fluctuations and global warming. Nowhere in his article there is any evidence of climatic fluctuations or global warming for the the "Orchard River" incident yet he comes to this conclusion. Thats like writing a travel article on visiting Canada in winter for their landscape but recommends those interested to bring along lighting clothing to ward off the hot climate. He even mentions that ION Orchard building works might have been a factor but look at the conclusion. This guy is with Institute of South East Asian studies and seen how he ends with a politically safe conclusion. How does one progress with rubbish like that.

I reckon that in the course of his research for the article he must have realised that it was old man's vision of 2 decades ago for building the barrage.
 
The MB was just a white elephant built for the single purpose of milking the millions $ inflated costs overuns.:o:o
 
I think Mr Lee is what is sometimes known as a 'useful idiot', i.e., academics in the pay of the regime to lend itself credibility. They are like the analysts paid by the banks to say nice things about them.

Thanks Sam, great work and paints a comprehensive and consistent picture.

I am actually intrigued by the Lee Poh Onn article. He mentions that the 3 highest rainfall as 1978, 1969 and 2006 when Orchard Road did not flood and the barrage did not exist yet note his conclusion. It comes down to Climatic fluctuations and global warming. Nowhere in his article there is any evidence of climatic fluctuations or global warming for the the "Orchard River" incident yet he comes to this conclusion. Thats like writing a travel article on visiting Canada in winter for their landscape but recommends those interested to bring along lighting clothing to ward off the hot climate. He even mentions that ION Orchard building works might have been a factor but look at the conclusion. This guy is with Institute of South East Asian studies and seen how he ends with a politically safe conclusion. How does one progress with rubbish like that.

I reckon that in the course of his research for the article he must have realised that it was old man's vision of 2 decades ago for building the barrage.
 
I reckon that in the course of his research for the article he must have realised that it was old man's vision of 2 decades ago for building the barrage.

perhaps Sam forgot to mention that the barrage was also in place so that Singapore doesn't need to rely too much on our neighbors up north for drinking water, or is it? :D:D:D

second on the list, "sai zui" isn't going well with the general public despite much effort to show that the water is ultra pure and yada yada yada... perhaps folks already know that it is easy to be "caught off guard" :eek::eek::eek:
 
perhaps Sam forgot to mention that the barrage was also in place so that Singapore doesn't need to rely too much on our neighbors up north for drinking water, or is it?

I didn't "mention" anything. All I've done is copy and paste historic articles which shed some light as to how Singapore has ended up as floodopoor.:eek:
 
Please don't get fixated with the Marina Barrage! It is only 350 m out of our 200 km coastline.

Marina Barrage can only be a partial reason.

First and foremost, the Marina Barrage was built to catch water as the PAP government has failed in its water negotiation with Malaysia. The first Water Agreement will expire next year! Flood alleviation is used to justify the cost and to distract the people from the failed negotiation.

Secondly, the Marina Barrage is NOT responsible for flood control for the entire Singapore. We have seen floods at Tampines Road, Thomson, Chai Chee and Jurong, haven't we?

Thirdly, you people are assuming that we will always have this happy situation of high water level at the Marina Reservoir. It is an aberration rather than the norm. Come next year when the water agreement expires, we will be drawing water on a permanently basis from the reservoir.

Sea tides are due to the gravitational forces of the sun and moon. The last 2 river mouths were dammed in 2009, there are no more questions on sea tides. Some of the old newspaper articles are irrelevant. Tide is only a limiting factor at the Marina Barrage - whether water can be released by the crest gates or using pumps.

All the 4 floods are due to rain water. It is crap to link them to global warming and rising sea level. If the sea level really rises by more than 1 metre due to melting ice, sea water would come in from anywhere along the 200 km coastline. Please don't believe the PUB crap about Singapore is able to cope. You just need to look at East Coast, Changi and West Coast beaches. Fortunately, anthropogenic global warming itself is crap.

There can only be one reason for the recent floods - it has to be the reservoirs are full (hahaha, a tautology but true nonetheless). They are full because of:
1. frequent rain;
2. desalting work is/was being done at the 3 new reservoirs (Punggol, Serangoon and Marina);and
3. the fact that we are not drawing water at a high rate from the 14 other reservoirs as we are still getting water from Malaysia.
 
Reservoirs being full has occurred many times. In the middle of last decade, the reservoir full argument was put forth by the PUB for the Joan Road floods.

If you read the articles flushed out by Sam it clearly indicates that the Govt itself had relied on the barrage to provide the relief.

Bear in mind the rainfall is not the highest recorded by any stretch. Full reservoirs have been on the cards for sometime. The "Orchard River" is a new phenomenon and as a matter of elimination one can reasonably make some assumptions.

Your argument does not hold water, reservoir or otherwise.


Please don't get fixated with the Marina Barrage! It is only 350 m out of our 200 km coastline.
 
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