- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
Jul 21, 2010
Slow down water flow to reduce flooding
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
HAVING read the discussion about the recent floods yesterday ("Probe into puzzle of Orchard Road floods blames waterway too"), one possible cause could be the over-efficiency of our network of smaller drainage systems linked to the major canals.
When PUB constructed the main canals to drain away water to the sea, it would have considered the worst-case scenario. Over the years, as the areas surrounding each major canal were redeveloped, their drainage systems were also improved. That made the flow of water very efficient. When many small drains discharge water very quickly, they cause a bottleneck at the main drainage system. The result is a major flood at the bottleneck. So, an over-efficient ancillary drainage system may not be a good thing.
To alleviate the situation, PUB could perhaps reduce the flow rate from the smaller drainage systems. Let every drain slow down the flow of water into the major canals and this could reduce the level of flooding and perhaps prevent future floods. It is all about flow control.
Lim Beng Cheng
Slow down water flow to reduce flooding
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
HAVING read the discussion about the recent floods yesterday ("Probe into puzzle of Orchard Road floods blames waterway too"), one possible cause could be the over-efficiency of our network of smaller drainage systems linked to the major canals.
When PUB constructed the main canals to drain away water to the sea, it would have considered the worst-case scenario. Over the years, as the areas surrounding each major canal were redeveloped, their drainage systems were also improved. That made the flow of water very efficient. When many small drains discharge water very quickly, they cause a bottleneck at the main drainage system. The result is a major flood at the bottleneck. So, an over-efficient ancillary drainage system may not be a good thing.
To alleviate the situation, PUB could perhaps reduce the flow rate from the smaller drainage systems. Let every drain slow down the flow of water into the major canals and this could reduce the level of flooding and perhaps prevent future floods. It is all about flow control.
Lim Beng Cheng
