The Singapore national water agency, PUB (Public Utilities Board) has recently accepted the recommendations of The Expert Panel on Drainage Design and Flood Protection Measures and announced that it will roll out a series of measures over the next five years at a cost of some S$750 million (approx £375 million).

These include:

Short term

• Increase Stamford Canal’s flow capacity by 10% within a year to reduce floods in Orchard Road.

• Set up fresh flood prevention and alleviation guidelines for new buildings, which may include roofs with plants to slow and retain rain water and flood barriers at buildings.

• Make available closed-circuit television images of flood-prone areas on PUB’s website from March.

• Roll out an improved heavy rain alert system by year end – to be taken forward by the National Environment Agency.

Mid term

• Launch a new flood prediction model by 2014, which will take into account clod patterns, rainfall and water levels - digital maps will predict where rain water will flow.

Long term

• Expand six major canals to increase their capacity by 30% to 40% in the next five years.

• Build a diversion canal or water storage pond to ease Stanford Canal’s burden – PUB will decide which measure to adopt by May.

• Review the drainage master-plan every three years instead of every five, as is being done now – PUB will publish a master-plan next year.

The Expert Panel on Drainage Design and Flood Protection Measures was appointed by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources on 30 June, 2011 to review flood protection and risk management measures that will be implemented in Singapore over the next decade. Over the span of 6 months, the Panel reviewed the Public Utilities Board’s' (PUB) drainage planning assumptions and parameters; identified innovative and cost-effective solutions; and proposed improvements to ensure public resilience to floods.

Please register your interest below with our team in Singapore to see the key conclusions and recommendations of the Expert Panel Report and to see details of the planned major drainage improvement projects from 2012 to 2016.