Strengthening SINGApore’s

Flood resilience

FLOOD Back in the 60s and 70s, floods – some as high as waist-level

MANAGEMENT
and affecting large areas – were common during heavy rains.

With abundant rainfall, relatively

low-lying land and limited space
for drainage infrastructure, flood
management in Singapore is an
ongoing challenge.

Over the years, the government has

Newton Circus, Dec 1969 Rochor Canal, Nov 1973
invested extensively in drainage
infrastructure – more than $2 billion
in the last 30 years. These efforts Today, about 8,000km of drains, rivers and canals channel
have relieved Singapore of rainwater quickly into our reservoirs or the sea.
widespread and prolonged floods.

However, short intense bursts of

rain over small areas can still cause
flash floods, which are localised and
typically subside within an hour.

Sungei Whampoa at St George’s Lane

In reviewing rainfall records over the last 30 years, the

independent Expert Panel for Drainage Design and Flood
Protection Measures found that there is a trend towards higher
rainfall intensities and an increased frequency of intense rains.

To strengthen Singapore’s flood resilience in coping with

increasing weather uncertainties and urbanisation, PUB adopts
a multi-pronged approach through solutions at:
• ‘Source’ (areas where rainwater falls)
• ‘Pathway’ (channels that runoff flows through)
• ‘Receptor’ (where floodwaters may flow to)
 MULTI-PRONGED DRAINAGE
(ii) Pathway SOLUTIONS
Expanding drains and building new canals e.g. Bukit Timah and Stamford Diversion Canals
Singapore’s first two diversion canals were built in 1972 and 1991

SOLUTIONS
Over the next five years, PUB will carry out more
at the Bukit Timah catchment. These have helped to alleviate
projects to improve drainage infrastructure and increase
the perennial flooding problem there. Works are ongoing to
flood protection. These include increasing the capacity
upgrade the Bukit Timah 1st Diversion Canal. A new diversion
of six major canals at Bukit Timah, Geylang River,
canal will also be built at the upstream section of the Stamford
Alexandra Canal, Rochor Canal, Sungei Bedok and
Canal catchment to divert rainwater from more than one-third
SOURCE Sungei Kallang by 30 to 45%.
of the catchment to the Singapore River. Together with the new
Detention Tank/
detention tank, the diversion canal will enhance the drainage
Green Roof
capacity of the Stamford Canal catchment.

SOURCE (iIi) Receptor SOLUTIONS

Detention Pond
Measures to protect buildings from flash floods
To provide flood protection, PUB introduced a Code
PATHWAY of Practice (COP) on Surface Water Drainage in 1976.
Canal Improvement This specifies minimum drainage requirements such as
PATHWAY
Diversion Canal minimum height of platform, land reclamation and crest
SOURCE levels for new developments. To meet the challenges of
Rain Garden greater weather uncertainties and increasing urbanisation,
the COP was revised in 2013 to require new developments
to slow down the runoff that would be discharged into
the public drainage system during heavy storms. PUB has
also produced a handbook to guide developers on the
measures to improve runoff management. Raised platform at Wisma Atria
RECEPTOR
RECEPTOR Minimum Platform and
Flood Barrier Crest Protection Levels

What role does Marina Barrage play?

The Marina Barrage helps reduce flood risks in low-lying water from the reservoir into the sea. If the sea level is
areas in the city (e.g., Chinatown). During heavy rain, higher due to high tide, seven giant pumps each capable
(i) Source SOLUTIONS when the reservoir water level is higher than the sea level,
up to nine crest gates can be opened to discharge excess
of emptying an Olympics-size swimming pool in 60
seconds, will drain excess stormwater into the sea.
Facilitating the implementation of measures to slow down runoff
These features can help retain or slow down stormwater runoff, and reduce the volume of water in
 City City  City City
the drainage system during intense rain. For instance, a detention tank will be built at Tyersall Avenue
to temporarily store excess rainwater from the drains along Holland Road. After the rain subsides, the
Crest Gate
Crest Gate
water will be pumped back to the drains for subsequent discharge into the Marina Reservoir.
Freshwater
Freshwater
ReservoirReservoir
Opera Estate Detention Tank: An example of a “Source” solution
Seawater
Seawater

Before Marina Barrage was built, high tides often caused the After Marina Barrage was built, a freshwater reservoir was created
seawater level to rise and flood low-lying areas. and the tidal influence that used to affect the city centre areas is
now removed.

City
City
City
City
 City
City  City

Crest Gate Crest Gate Crest Gate

Crest Gate Crest Gate Crest Gate
Freshwater Freshwater Freshwater
   Reservoir Freshwater  Reservoir Freshwater Reservoir Freshwater
Reservoir Reservoir Reservoir
The water flows through two The blocked debris The tank is built underground After the storm, the water stored
eawater
barriers to weed out rubbish. is raised through an next to a drain. When the in the tank is pumped back out PUMPS
PUMPS
They consist of grilles 35cm automatic conveyor drain overflows during heavy into the drainage network. There
and 25mm apart to block system and dumped storms, the excess water are large and small pumps in
debris of various sizes such as into trash bins above goes into the detention tank. the tank which are deployed If the sea level is lower than the reservoir water level, the crest If the reservoir water level is lower than the sea level, the excess
branches and smaller leaves. ground. depending on the water level. gates are lowered and excess stormwater in the reservoir is stormwater in the reservoir is discharged into the sea through
discharged into the sea. pumps.
How can you play a part?
Do Not Litter
• Keep drains, canals and waterways free of litter so that rainwater
can flow smoothly through our waterways.
• Report clogged or dirty drains to the Department of Public
Cleanliness at 1800-600 3333 or email [email protected]

Stay updated
• Visit PUB’s dedicated flash flood management website
(www.pub.gov.sg/managingflashfloods) to:
- subscribe to heavy rain warning SMS alerts;
- monitor water levels through the 156 sensors in key canals and
drains islandwide; and
- assess road conditions through CCTV images of selected locations.
• Download PUB’s free mobile app “MyWaters”, for:
- updates on water level in key drains and canals;
- information on road conditions at selected areas via CCTV images
during rainstorms; and
- flash flood push notifications via a customised ringtone alert.
• Log on to PUB’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/PUBSg) or PUB’s
Twitter (twitter.com/PUBSingapore), or tune in to radio broadcasts, to
find out locations of flash floods.
• Log on to Weather@SG at weather.nea.gov.sg or twitter.com/neasg, or
call NEA’s weather forecast hotline at 6542 7788 for weather information.

Report floods
You can also help by reporting flash floods via PUB’s mobile app “MyWaters”
or PUB’s 24-hour call centre at 1800-284 6600. PUB’s free iPhone app “MyWaters”

What should you do

during a FLASH FLOOD?
If you are outside [Pedestrians]: If you are indoors:
• Be alert, move immediately to higher ground • Do not touch electrical equipment if you are
and stay there until the flood subsides. wet or standing in water.
• Do not walk through floodwaters. • If you live in low-rise housing, move essential
items to higher ground.
• Use a stick to check the firmness of the
ground in front of you. • Place flood boards or sandbags to block out
the water.
If you are outside [Motorists]: • Get updates on the flood situation through
channels listed above.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. Low visibility
can obscure the depth of floodwaters. Produced by
• If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon PUB, the national water agency
the car and move to higher ground. Printed in May 2013