Managing Stormwater in Urbanised Singapore for Flood Control

Thoo Jung Chee Executive Engineer, Catchment & Waterways Department

Some 7,000 km of roadside drains 990 km of major rivers Some 7,000 km of roadside drains 990 km of major rivers

Stormwater management
Objective Provide a first-rate drainage system to : harness rainwater for our water needs; and keep Singapore flood free.

Strategies to prevent and alleviate floods

(i)

Drainage master planning and development control

(ii) Drainage improvement projects (iii) Maintenance & enforcement programme

Strategies to prevent and alleviate floods

(i)

Drainage master planning and development control

maintain and update the drainage master plans in tandem with land developments ensure that proper and adequate drainage facilities are provided to serve new developments

(ii) Drainage improvement projects (iii) Maintenance & enforcement programme

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Types of drains/canals
820 ha safeguarded for drains and canals (excludes roadside drains within road reserves)

Canal

Outlet drain

River Open roadside drain Closed roadside drain 6

flood protection measures

Newton Circus May 1988

1.0m Crest

Crest protection for MRT Newton Station

1.0m Crest
Higher platform level for wafer fabrication plants Crest protection for MRT Clarke Quay Station

working with developing agencies..

Jurong Island Complex

Commonwealth Ave/Queensway Interchange

Hougang New Town

Kallang / Paya Lebar Expressway 8

Strategies to prevent and alleviate floods

(i) Drainage master planning and development control

(ii) Drainage improvement projects

ensure that drains and canals are upgraded in time to serve new developments remove constrictions in old drains/canals

(iii) Maintenance & enforcement programme

Bukit Timah Phase 2A Flood Alleviation

Thomson Road , 3 Dec 1978

1

3 4 1 2
2

2 3

Bukit Timah Rd / Evans Rd, 13 May 1988

Newton Circus , 13 May 1988

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Reservoir in the city Marina Barrage

3 in 1 project :- 1) Flood alleviation
2) Water supply to act as a tidal barrier to control floods in the city to be a freshwater reservoir

3) Lifestyle attraction vibrant waterfront with water based activities

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Strategies to prevent and alleviate floods

(i)

Drainage master planning and development control

(ii) Drainage improvement projects (iii) Maintenance & enforcement programme

12

Maintenance of Waterways
Keeping the drains and waterways free flowing and to operate drainage facilities
regular desilting of canals and rivers cleansing of open roadside drains trapping and removing flotsam & debris
float booms mechanical debris removal facility

pumping stations & tidegates

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Drainage facilities

Pumping Station

Float boom

Tide Gate

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Desilting of canals and rivers

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Flood Prone Areas

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Physical conditions affecting drainage in Singapore

island generally flat with pockets of low lying areas affected by high tides increased stormwater runoff from urbanisation

annual rainfall of around 2400mm

285.3

Amount of Rainfall (mm)

253.9 241.8 194.0 171.1 163.0 176.2 159.3 171.0

2 main seasons dictated by monsoons northeast monsoon (Nov to Mar) southwest monsoon (May to Sep)

184.6 163.8

179.2

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Past major floods in Singapore

600

Maximum 24-hour rainfall (from 1931 to 2008)

Dec 1969 3,000 people affected 5 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 2750 ha 512 467 Dec 1978 1,000 people affected 7 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 3178 ha

500

Amount of Rainfall (mm) Amount of Rainfall (mm)

400 Dec 1954 50,000 people affected 5 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 2540 ha

366 326

300

200

100

1931

1940

1950

1960

1980

Year Year 18

1970

1990

2000

2008

No Record

Past Floods

Flood Photo 1954

Potong Pasir, Dec 1954 Newton Circus, Dec 1969 Braddell Road, Dec 1978

Flood Photo 1954

Orchard Road, Dec 1954

Bideford Road, Dec 1969

3200 ha in the 1970s

Braddell Road, Dec 1978

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Past Floods

21 May 1984
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Recent Floods
(Singapore)

Sims Ave East near Lor Marican (12 Apr 2008)

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Recent Floods
(Singapore)

Slip road from CTE to PIE (14 May 2008)

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Recent Floods
(Singapore)

Syed Alwi Rd (26 Sep 2008)

23

Past major floods in Singapore

600

Maximum 24-hour rainfall (from 1931 to 2008)

Dec 1969 3,000 people affected 5 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 2750 ha 512 467 Dec 2006 8 nurseries, 29 families, 1 club house & 4 shophouses Tide level = 3.0m Total flooded area = 12 ha Dec 1978 1,000 people affected 7 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 3178 ha

500

Amount of Rainfall (mm) Amount of Rainfall (mm)

400 Dec 1954 50,000 people affected 5 people died Tide level = 3.2m Total flooded area = 2540 ha

366

326

300

200

100

1931

1940

1950

1960

1980

Year Year 24

1970

1990

2000

2008

No Record

While the flood problems in Singapore are under control, we can still expect floods for two main reasons :
low-lying areas where ground levels are barely above high tide are prone to flooding when heavy rain coincides with high tides. The only effective flood control measure is to raise the ground levels in conjunction with redevelopment there is a limit to which we can widen drains because of land constraints. Very intense rainfall can overwhelm the drains and cause flash floods. Such floods however will be minor and of short duration

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Some 7,000 km of roadside drains 990 km of major rivers Some 7,000 km of roadside drains 990 km of major rivers

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Active Beautiful Clean (ABC) Waters Programme

Long-term strategic initiative
To transform our utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs into vibrant, aesthetically pleasing and clean flowing streams, rivers and lakes To bring people closer to the water so that they will cherish and take ownership To create a seamless blue-green network well integrated with the adjacent developments

Turn Singapore into a City of Gardens and Water PM Lee, ABC Waters Public Exhibition - Feb 2007 27

Thank You

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