As Singapore fortifies against rising tides, the nation’s solutions and strategies will be based on science, with national water agency PUB taking the lead as the national coastal protection agency.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli told Parliament on 4 March that PUB will embark on coastal protection studies to develop long-term strategies and engineering designs for protecting the most vulnerable segments of the coast, including Jurong Island and low-lying areas between the east and the city.
Singapore’s coastal protection plans will be done in phases, starting with these areas, he added.
The expansion of PUB’s role beyond storm water management to include coastal protection will allow it to tackle inland and coastal flooding comprehensively, he said.
Singapore is also at risk from more erratic rainfall patterns, such as extended dry spells that dry up reservoirs or bouts of more intense rainfall that could overwhelm drainage systems.
“Good water-demand management is equally important in complementing efforts in water supply,” said Mr Masagos, who also launched Singapore’s 2020 water conservation campaign.
Ms Hazel Khoo, director designate of PUB’s coastal protection department, said that a variety of factors are considered when prioritising areas for coastal protection.
These include considerations on the potential impact of a flood event, the criticality of assets within an area – such as the presence of airports, economic and industrial districts, the estimated costs of protection measures and opportunities of dovetailing coastal protection strategies with upcoming developments, she said.
Even as Singapore looks to fortifying its coast, it will also look for opportunities for urban development and to preserve its green areas, Mr Masagos noted. Reclaiming a series of islands offshore and connecting them by building barrages would create community spaces for Singaporeans and also contribute to water resilience.
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Source: The Straits Times, 5 March 2020