Singapore’s water supply received a boost with the opening of the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs.
This brings the total number of reservoirs in Singapore to 17.
The reservoirs were created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon. Both reservoirs can meet about five per cent of the country’s water needs and will collect rainwater from estates and areas within Punggol and Sengkang, as well as parts of Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.
Together with the Marina Reservoir, they increase the water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore.
National water agency PUB celebrated this milestone on Sunday at a ceremony officiated by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
The plan is part of PUB’s strategy to create estuarine reservoirs by damming the major rivers to collect and store as much of the 2,400mm of rain that it gets annually.
Singapore has eight reservoirs collecting water from urbanised catchments in the densely populated city areas and residential towns.
Dr Balakrishnan said: “The use of urbanised catchments required careful land use planning and supporting infrastructure to safeguard the quality of the water.
“For instance, sewerage infrastructure had to be put in place to carry away used water. Old sewers had to be upgraded to ensure that there were no leaks polluting ground water. Highly pollutive industries had to be relocated outside the water catchment areas.”
Dr Balakrishnan added that the new reservoirs are significant in Singapore’s journey towards water self-sufficiency and sustainability.
PUB said water from local catchments is a pillar of Singapore’s water sustainability strategy, along with imported water, high-grade reclaimed water branded as NEWater and desalinated water.
Collectively, these four sources of water are known as the “Four National Taps” to ensure a diversified and sustainable water supply.
PUB said besides enhancing water supply, the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs are set to transform the landscape in north-eastern Singapore.
Envisioned as a “waterfront town of the 21st century”, Punggol Town will soon become a commercial and social hub, with a 4.2-km waterway that connects both reservoirs running through the estate and town centre.
Residents can look forward to waterfront living in the heartlands with a myriad of attractive and lifestyle choices lined up along the banks.
DPM Teo said: “It’s a multi-used reservoir, recreational area, people can enjoy the water centre here. It’s just wonderful to see the transformation within just 15 years.”
Water from the Serangoon reservoir is still undergoing desalting process, and will only be fit for consumption by the end of this year.
