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Climate change is not what we should worry about now. Polar caps melting is.
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IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Chitchat Singkieland B Cummings Sinking Land. More Ponding Akan Datang
- Thread starter Hypocrite-The
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Temperature reaching 36c soon.....soon we all have to hide indoors permanently
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How cum no longer called Ponding?
Commentary: How prepared is Singapore for the next flash flood?
A comprehensive strategy to manage floods in Singapore would comprise engineering, green and digital solutions, say Asit K Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada.
Traffic along Paya Lebar affected after heavy rain. (Photo: Thomas Tan)Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Rainfall patterns in Singapore have been unusual in recent months. Thundery showers have persisted since August.
On Aug 11, heavy rain led to accumulated water, 50mm deep, on Aljunied Road, and on Aug 14, flash flooding occurred at the junction of Craig Road and Tanjong Pagar Road.
Last weekend, pictures of Bukit Timah canal filled to the brim were shared widely on social media.
But, as much as people may have been concerned, the chances of Bukit Timah canal water spilling over the road are almost non-existent.
READ: Climate change, floods and drought: Here’s how badly Singapore could be affected
While the occasional flash flood hasn’t caught us by surprise, many Singaporeans still remember those floods of Orchard Road in 2010 and 2011 to this date, when a month’s worth of rain fell in a few hours.
On Jun 16, 2010, two intense bouts of morning rain breached the Stamford Canal, leading to floods of up to 300mm along Singapore’s shopping belt. Older buildings such as Lucky Plaza, Liat Towers and Delfi Orchard saw their basements inundated with water.
The insurance claims that followed from business interruptions, property and vehicle damage were worth a hefty S$23 million.
And on Dec 23, 2011, 152mm of rain fell over three hours, partially submerging cars and low-lying shops.
During the past two weeks, rains have been quite heavy. The question arises whether Singapore is close to a once-in-a-hundred year storm, the likes of which drove millions from their homes in China this year. The answer is no.
A man rests outside a flooded shop after heavy rainfall led to flooding in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, China Jun 30, 2020. (China Daily via REUTERS)READ: Commentary: China struggles with ‘once-in-a-century’ floods that may be new normal
In Northern Sumatra, where floods occur each monsoon season with some regularity, the Indonesian military and other disaster relief authorities face a tough test of evacuating residents quickly.
Singapore, in a different geographical location, is very unlikely to face the national flooding emergencies China or Indonesia go through regularly, arising from coastal flooding and rivers overflowing, but will still face a complex set of challenges, especially around inland flash flooding.
READ: Commentary: Kelantan’s epic struggles with great, yellow floods each monsoon
BUILDING UP TO TACKLE FLASH FLOODS
Managing urban floods has always been a difficult and complex process. Coupled with the unpredictability, extent and magnitude of climate change, it is an even more arduous task for a small city-state like Singapore.
Cities all around the world are familiar with this predicament, as increasing urbanisation with concrete structures and surfaces do not allow water to be absorbed in the ground quickly.
Drain infrastructure can channel rainwater away from prime downtown neighbourhoods into rivers and other low-lying areas, but the trade-offs should discourage reliance on engineering to resolve flooding.
READ: Commentary: Rising temperatures, fires and floods highlight importance of understanding weather extremes
Singapore in particular is severely land constrained, with unit land costs among the highest in the world.
As then Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli pointed out in February 2018, widening canals to carry floodwater out of the city indefinitely is not a feasible solution, because of high costs and the land it needs.
There is also the possibility that future intense rainfall events could exceed the design capacity of the upgraded drain, especially due to climate change.
Part of Bedok Canal flooding over its banks, Jan 8, 2018. (Photo: Alex Lo)
Engineering can help tackle flooding but would require huge investments and strong public support.
Tokyo – a city facing somewhat similar constraints – opted to build the world’s largest underground reservoir where floodwater from extreme rainfalls and major typhoons can be diverted. The entire structure took 12 years to construct and cost US$2 billion (S$2.72 billion).
The assets and lives saved only during the extreme flood event of 2014, however, justified the enormous cost.
This flood protection system is likely to continue serving Tokyo well. According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, storms are increasing due to global warming. Rainfall measuring more than two inches an hour surged by 30 per cent from the past 30 years, and for rainfall over three inches an hour, 70 per cent.
Such occurrences are now observed in many parts of the world.
LISTEN: Getting down to the big picture science of climate change
CITY PREPARED TO DEAL WITH A STORM TODAY
Since the 2010 to 2011 floods of Orchard Road area, PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, has done a remarkable job in managing floods.
Over the past decade, it has upgraded drainage design standards, ensuring they can handle higher rainfall intensities over much longer durations.
It has incorporated green infrastructure into its flood management strategy, like the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters programme to integrate canals and reservoirs into community spaces, and the building of rooftop gardens.
It has also leveraged digital solutions – including the use of water sensors in drains and canals to detect high levels of water and new weather monitoring tools to forecast which street will see heavy rainfall, so PUB flood response teams can be deployed rapidly.
File photo of the Stamford Diversion Canal.
Like Tokyo, Singapore has developed an underground reservoir, though much smaller in scale. The 2km-long Stamford Diversion Canal was built in 2014 to divert stormwater into the Singapore River through underground tunnels.
In conjunction, the Stamford Detention Tank – an underwater storage facility the size of a football field – relieves drains in Holland Road during periods of heavy rain. These projects will prevent serious flooding in the Orchard Road area in the future.
Because of PUB’s advanced planning, flood-prone areas in Singapore have been reduced to less than 29 hectares by 2018, compared to about 79 hectares in 2008.
READ: Commentary: Let Singapore’s green spaces grow wild
BUT FLOOD FORECASTING MORE COMPLEX
Much as Singapore is better prepared to manage flash floods, can Singapore really say we are ready for the next big one?
Estimating a 100-year flood with any degree of reliability is a tall order. Assessing flood hazard requires information on their severity, frequency of occurrence, total area affected and duration.
Each one of these factors are difficult to predict. Combining all increases the degree of uncertainty significantly.
This challenge is even more complex as long-term rainfall records, necessary for any flood planning, are not available prior to independence.
READ: Commentary: How effectively can Singapore adapt to sea level rise?
Intense thunderstorms are complex systems, especially in Singapore’s warm and humid environment. Convections of air that influence thunderstorms are unpredictable and can change direction and frequency very quickly.
It is not uncommon to see heavy thunderstorms in one part of Singapore and no rain in areas in only 5km to 8km away. This patchiness complicates island-wide long-term flood management planning.
Dark clouds above buildings in Singapore. (Photo: Howard Law)
There is also growing evidence from all over the world that the challenge will be greater with climate change, as rainfall extremes increase.
A warming climate can make the situation worse and more complex, as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, intensifying flash flood-producing storms.
What used to be a full month’s rain can fall in a mere few hours, overwhelming the drainage capacity of the area. A 100-year storm centred over the Marina Catchment, which has an area of 10,000 ha, means 130mm of rainfall may fall in an hour. This would fill up about 5,190 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
READ: Commentary: Jakarta, the fastest sinking city in the world faces the biggest flooding challenge
ADAPTING AND MITIGATING TO THE REALITY OF FLOODS
With climate change, a real alternative for the future will be for Singaporeans to learn to live with small flash floods for short periods.
For example, in cities like Dhaka, what is considered to be a major flood in Singapore is locally termed as waterlogging – a reference to rainwater overwhelming urban drainage systems.
Considered a perennial problem, people have learnt to adapt their lives to such temporary inconveniences in low-lying areas.
An ambulance is seen stuck in flood water near Changi fire station on Jun 23 morning. (Photo: Nicholas Ong)
Commentary: How prepared is Singapore for the next flash flood?
A comprehensive strategy to manage floods in Singapore would comprise engineering, green and digital solutions, say Asit K Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada.
Traffic along Paya Lebar affected after heavy rain. (Photo: Thomas Tan)Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Rainfall patterns in Singapore have been unusual in recent months. Thundery showers have persisted since August.
On Aug 11, heavy rain led to accumulated water, 50mm deep, on Aljunied Road, and on Aug 14, flash flooding occurred at the junction of Craig Road and Tanjong Pagar Road.
Last weekend, pictures of Bukit Timah canal filled to the brim were shared widely on social media.
But, as much as people may have been concerned, the chances of Bukit Timah canal water spilling over the road are almost non-existent.
READ: Climate change, floods and drought: Here’s how badly Singapore could be affected
While the occasional flash flood hasn’t caught us by surprise, many Singaporeans still remember those floods of Orchard Road in 2010 and 2011 to this date, when a month’s worth of rain fell in a few hours.
On Jun 16, 2010, two intense bouts of morning rain breached the Stamford Canal, leading to floods of up to 300mm along Singapore’s shopping belt. Older buildings such as Lucky Plaza, Liat Towers and Delfi Orchard saw their basements inundated with water.
The insurance claims that followed from business interruptions, property and vehicle damage were worth a hefty S$23 million.
And on Dec 23, 2011, 152mm of rain fell over three hours, partially submerging cars and low-lying shops.
During the past two weeks, rains have been quite heavy. The question arises whether Singapore is close to a once-in-a-hundred year storm, the likes of which drove millions from their homes in China this year. The answer is no.
A man rests outside a flooded shop after heavy rainfall led to flooding in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, China Jun 30, 2020. (China Daily via REUTERS)READ: Commentary: China struggles with ‘once-in-a-century’ floods that may be new normal
In Northern Sumatra, where floods occur each monsoon season with some regularity, the Indonesian military and other disaster relief authorities face a tough test of evacuating residents quickly.
Singapore, in a different geographical location, is very unlikely to face the national flooding emergencies China or Indonesia go through regularly, arising from coastal flooding and rivers overflowing, but will still face a complex set of challenges, especially around inland flash flooding.
READ: Commentary: Kelantan’s epic struggles with great, yellow floods each monsoon
BUILDING UP TO TACKLE FLASH FLOODS
Managing urban floods has always been a difficult and complex process. Coupled with the unpredictability, extent and magnitude of climate change, it is an even more arduous task for a small city-state like Singapore.
Cities all around the world are familiar with this predicament, as increasing urbanisation with concrete structures and surfaces do not allow water to be absorbed in the ground quickly.
Drain infrastructure can channel rainwater away from prime downtown neighbourhoods into rivers and other low-lying areas, but the trade-offs should discourage reliance on engineering to resolve flooding.
READ: Commentary: Rising temperatures, fires and floods highlight importance of understanding weather extremes
Singapore in particular is severely land constrained, with unit land costs among the highest in the world.
As then Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli pointed out in February 2018, widening canals to carry floodwater out of the city indefinitely is not a feasible solution, because of high costs and the land it needs.
There is also the possibility that future intense rainfall events could exceed the design capacity of the upgraded drain, especially due to climate change.
Part of Bedok Canal flooding over its banks, Jan 8, 2018. (Photo: Alex Lo)
Engineering can help tackle flooding but would require huge investments and strong public support.
Tokyo – a city facing somewhat similar constraints – opted to build the world’s largest underground reservoir where floodwater from extreme rainfalls and major typhoons can be diverted. The entire structure took 12 years to construct and cost US$2 billion (S$2.72 billion).
The assets and lives saved only during the extreme flood event of 2014, however, justified the enormous cost.
This flood protection system is likely to continue serving Tokyo well. According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, storms are increasing due to global warming. Rainfall measuring more than two inches an hour surged by 30 per cent from the past 30 years, and for rainfall over three inches an hour, 70 per cent.
Such occurrences are now observed in many parts of the world.
LISTEN: Getting down to the big picture science of climate change
CITY PREPARED TO DEAL WITH A STORM TODAY
Since the 2010 to 2011 floods of Orchard Road area, PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, has done a remarkable job in managing floods.
Over the past decade, it has upgraded drainage design standards, ensuring they can handle higher rainfall intensities over much longer durations.
It has incorporated green infrastructure into its flood management strategy, like the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters programme to integrate canals and reservoirs into community spaces, and the building of rooftop gardens.
It has also leveraged digital solutions – including the use of water sensors in drains and canals to detect high levels of water and new weather monitoring tools to forecast which street will see heavy rainfall, so PUB flood response teams can be deployed rapidly.
File photo of the Stamford Diversion Canal.
Like Tokyo, Singapore has developed an underground reservoir, though much smaller in scale. The 2km-long Stamford Diversion Canal was built in 2014 to divert stormwater into the Singapore River through underground tunnels.
In conjunction, the Stamford Detention Tank – an underwater storage facility the size of a football field – relieves drains in Holland Road during periods of heavy rain. These projects will prevent serious flooding in the Orchard Road area in the future.
Because of PUB’s advanced planning, flood-prone areas in Singapore have been reduced to less than 29 hectares by 2018, compared to about 79 hectares in 2008.
READ: Commentary: Let Singapore’s green spaces grow wild
BUT FLOOD FORECASTING MORE COMPLEX
Much as Singapore is better prepared to manage flash floods, can Singapore really say we are ready for the next big one?
Estimating a 100-year flood with any degree of reliability is a tall order. Assessing flood hazard requires information on their severity, frequency of occurrence, total area affected and duration.
Each one of these factors are difficult to predict. Combining all increases the degree of uncertainty significantly.
This challenge is even more complex as long-term rainfall records, necessary for any flood planning, are not available prior to independence.
READ: Commentary: How effectively can Singapore adapt to sea level rise?
Intense thunderstorms are complex systems, especially in Singapore’s warm and humid environment. Convections of air that influence thunderstorms are unpredictable and can change direction and frequency very quickly.
It is not uncommon to see heavy thunderstorms in one part of Singapore and no rain in areas in only 5km to 8km away. This patchiness complicates island-wide long-term flood management planning.
Dark clouds above buildings in Singapore. (Photo: Howard Law)
There is also growing evidence from all over the world that the challenge will be greater with climate change, as rainfall extremes increase.
A warming climate can make the situation worse and more complex, as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, intensifying flash flood-producing storms.
What used to be a full month’s rain can fall in a mere few hours, overwhelming the drainage capacity of the area. A 100-year storm centred over the Marina Catchment, which has an area of 10,000 ha, means 130mm of rainfall may fall in an hour. This would fill up about 5,190 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
READ: Commentary: Jakarta, the fastest sinking city in the world faces the biggest flooding challenge
ADAPTING AND MITIGATING TO THE REALITY OF FLOODS
With climate change, a real alternative for the future will be for Singaporeans to learn to live with small flash floods for short periods.
For example, in cities like Dhaka, what is considered to be a major flood in Singapore is locally termed as waterlogging – a reference to rainwater overwhelming urban drainage systems.
Considered a perennial problem, people have learnt to adapt their lives to such temporary inconveniences in low-lying areas.
An ambulance is seen stuck in flood water near Changi fire station on Jun 23 morning. (Photo: Nicholas Ong)
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 106,012
- Points
- 113
What's all this talk about flash floods? I thought LKY's grandiose vanity project was supposed to prevent them? 
Blog post from 2014:
Marina Barrage: Alleviates or Worsens Singapore’s Flooding?
https://untouristsingapore.wordpres...ge-alleviates-or-worsens-singapores-flooding/
Blog post from 2014:
Marina Barrage: Alleviates or Worsens Singapore’s Flooding?
https://untouristsingapore.wordpres...ge-alleviates-or-worsens-singapores-flooding/
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 30,201
- Points
- 113
Heavy rains lead to flash floods in areas across Singapore
Monday, 02 Nov 2020 11:43 PM MYT
In photos shared on social media, murky brown water can be seen inundating parts of a road along Hougang Ave 3 near the Singapore Girls’ Home. — SG Road Vigilante/Facebook pic via TODAYSINGAPORE, Nov 2 — Heavy rain this afternoon led to flash floods in three locations across the island, national water agency PUB said.
In a Facebook post at around 3.15pm, PUB said that flash floods had occurred along Upper Paya Lebar Road, Lorong Gambir near Bartley as well as Mount Vernon Road.
PUB said that its officers had been deployed to those locations to “render assistance”.
It had issued an advisory at about 3pm of the risk of flash floods in several locations across the island where water levels in drains and canals have reached 90 per cent. Members of the public were also told to avoid the areas.
They were:
● Siang Kuang Avenue
● Jalan Lokam/Upper Paya Lebar Road
● Puay Hee Avenue/Siak Kew Avenue
● Sims Drive/Block 56
● Lorong Gambir/Gambir Walk
● Lorong Ong Lye/Lorong Lew Lian
● Happy Avenue North (Lamp Post 11)
● Macpherson Road/Playfair Road
● Balestier Road/Thomson Road
● Sg Serangoon Branch (Hougang Ave 7)
● Playfair Road (Bartley Road East)
In another advisory at around 4.30pm, PUB said that heavy rain was expected over many parts of northern and western Singapore.
In photos shared on social media, murky brown water can be seen inundating parts of a road along Hougang Ave 3 near the Singapore Girls’ Home.
A user on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group also posted a photo of a fallen tree along Macpherson Road blocking the path of motorists on both lanes. — TODAY
Monday, 02 Nov 2020 11:43 PM MYT
In a Facebook post at around 3.15pm, PUB said that flash floods had occurred along Upper Paya Lebar Road, Lorong Gambir near Bartley as well as Mount Vernon Road.
PUB said that its officers had been deployed to those locations to “render assistance”.
It had issued an advisory at about 3pm of the risk of flash floods in several locations across the island where water levels in drains and canals have reached 90 per cent. Members of the public were also told to avoid the areas.
They were:
● Siang Kuang Avenue
● Jalan Lokam/Upper Paya Lebar Road
● Puay Hee Avenue/Siak Kew Avenue
● Sims Drive/Block 56
● Lorong Gambir/Gambir Walk
● Lorong Ong Lye/Lorong Lew Lian
● Happy Avenue North (Lamp Post 11)
● Macpherson Road/Playfair Road
● Balestier Road/Thomson Road
● Sg Serangoon Branch (Hougang Ave 7)
● Playfair Road (Bartley Road East)
In another advisory at around 4.30pm, PUB said that heavy rain was expected over many parts of northern and western Singapore.
In photos shared on social media, murky brown water can be seen inundating parts of a road along Hougang Ave 3 near the Singapore Girls’ Home.
A user on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group also posted a photo of a fallen tree along Macpherson Road blocking the path of motorists on both lanes. — TODAY
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 30,201
- Points
- 113
Resident questions why nothing has been done to address 10-year flooding issue at Joo Seng despite PUB having the means
"Has the part-time MP also been sleeping on the job? Perhaps our civil servants need to be constantly reminded to serve the people."
by Stephen Netto
4 November 2020
in Community, Current Affairs
2 min read
4
Screenshot from Jose Raymond's Facebook Live Video
Phillip Ang, a resident at Pasir Ris, sent out an email to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (3 Nov) penning his frustration on the lack of action taken to address a flooding issue at Joo Seng that has been going on for 10 years.
In the email, Mr Ang cited a video uploaded on Facebook by Singapore People’s Party (SPP) chairman Jose Raymond earlier on Monday (2 Nov), which highlighted the issue of flooding at Block 14 Joo Seng.
According to Mr Raymond, the flooding has been an ongoing concern in Joo Seng for a decade.
“The live video makes it very clear why this is a problem which needs to be solved through better rainwater management, widening of drains for quicker flow or even the use of permeable pavements in the affected areas,” he wrote in his post.
Although Mr Ang is not a resident at Joo Seng, he understood what residents at Block 14 Joo Seng have been going through – having been in a similar situation some years ago.
The Paris Ris resident shared that his place of residence – Block 608 Elias Road – had the same flooding issue back in 2011, which persisted for nearly two years.
Mr Ang said that in 2013, he highlighted the issue to his “disinterested town council”. He then met up with engineers from the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to come up with a solution.
“The issue was resolved in about a year by constructing a new drain and widening existing drainage,” he noted in his email, adding that there has been no flooding since then.
Coming back to the decade-long flooding issue at Joo Seng, Mr Ang questioned why nothing has been done to address the matter despite the fact that the PUB clearly have the means to do so.
“Has the part-time MP [Member of Parliament] also been sleeping on the job? Perhaps our civil servants need to be constantly reminded to serve the people,” he added.
"Has the part-time MP also been sleeping on the job? Perhaps our civil servants need to be constantly reminded to serve the people."
4 November 2020
in Community, Current Affairs
2 min read
4
Screenshot from Jose Raymond's Facebook Live Video
Phillip Ang, a resident at Pasir Ris, sent out an email to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (3 Nov) penning his frustration on the lack of action taken to address a flooding issue at Joo Seng that has been going on for 10 years.
In the email, Mr Ang cited a video uploaded on Facebook by Singapore People’s Party (SPP) chairman Jose Raymond earlier on Monday (2 Nov), which highlighted the issue of flooding at Block 14 Joo Seng.
According to Mr Raymond, the flooding has been an ongoing concern in Joo Seng for a decade.
“The live video makes it very clear why this is a problem which needs to be solved through better rainwater management, widening of drains for quicker flow or even the use of permeable pavements in the affected areas,” he wrote in his post.
Although Mr Ang is not a resident at Joo Seng, he understood what residents at Block 14 Joo Seng have been going through – having been in a similar situation some years ago.
The Paris Ris resident shared that his place of residence – Block 608 Elias Road – had the same flooding issue back in 2011, which persisted for nearly two years.
Mr Ang said that in 2013, he highlighted the issue to his “disinterested town council”. He then met up with engineers from the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to come up with a solution.
“The issue was resolved in about a year by constructing a new drain and widening existing drainage,” he noted in his email, adding that there has been no flooding since then.
Coming back to the decade-long flooding issue at Joo Seng, Mr Ang questioned why nothing has been done to address the matter despite the fact that the PUB clearly have the means to do so.
“Has the part-time MP [Member of Parliament] also been sleeping on the job? Perhaps our civil servants need to be constantly reminded to serve the people,” he added.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 30,201
- Points
- 113
Recent flooding shows importance of planning for climate change, says Grace Fu
A flash flood at Ulu Pandan on Apr 17, 2021. (Photo: Tok Wee Peng)Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Recent flooding incidents here show the importance of planning for climate change, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Monday (Apr 19).
"The recent floodings have shown the effects of climate change in Singapore. We are getting a lot more intense rainfall, one of the highest in the last 40 years," said Ms Fu.
This shows that it is necessary to plan for climate change and ways to mitigate its effects, she added, noting that tackling the issue requires understanding the "twin challenges" of both inland flooding and sea level rise.
Singapore has already been witnessing weather pattern changes, and moving forward, can expect to see even more such changes as a result of climate change, she said.
Ms Fu was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a worksite for the second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS).
Her comments come after heavy rain across the island resulted in flash floods on Saturday (Apr 17). PUB issued flood risk warnings for more than 20 locations including the Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan canals as well as Sungei Pandan Kechil.
READ: PUB starts development of coastal-inland flood model which will help assess flood risks
The national water agency noted then that western Singapore recorded the heaviest rainfall of 161.4mm between 12.25pm and 3.25pm, or about 91 per cent of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in April.
It said this was in the top 0.5 per cent of maximum daily rainfall records since 1981.
Heavy rains also resulted in flash floods in parts of Singapore last month.
PUB has already spent about S$2 billion over the last decade on improving Singapore's drainage system as part of flood mitigation measures, and will spend almost S$1.4 billion more on such efforts over the next five years, said Ms Fu on Monday.
A flash flood at Ulu Pandan on Apr 17, 2021. (Photo: Tok Wee Peng)Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Recent flooding incidents here show the importance of planning for climate change, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Monday (Apr 19).
"The recent floodings have shown the effects of climate change in Singapore. We are getting a lot more intense rainfall, one of the highest in the last 40 years," said Ms Fu.
This shows that it is necessary to plan for climate change and ways to mitigate its effects, she added, noting that tackling the issue requires understanding the "twin challenges" of both inland flooding and sea level rise.
Singapore has already been witnessing weather pattern changes, and moving forward, can expect to see even more such changes as a result of climate change, she said.
Ms Fu was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a worksite for the second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS).
Her comments come after heavy rain across the island resulted in flash floods on Saturday (Apr 17). PUB issued flood risk warnings for more than 20 locations including the Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan canals as well as Sungei Pandan Kechil.
READ: PUB starts development of coastal-inland flood model which will help assess flood risks
The national water agency noted then that western Singapore recorded the heaviest rainfall of 161.4mm between 12.25pm and 3.25pm, or about 91 per cent of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in April.
It said this was in the top 0.5 per cent of maximum daily rainfall records since 1981.
Heavy rains also resulted in flash floods in parts of Singapore last month.
PUB has already spent about S$2 billion over the last decade on improving Singapore's drainage system as part of flood mitigation measures, and will spend almost S$1.4 billion more on such efforts over the next five years, said Ms Fu on Monday.
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