Standing at the heart of Singapore’s bustling Central Business District, the Singapore river stands as an icon to remind all about how Singapore’s past, present and future are inextricably linked. However, while its burgeoning success in the 1970s brought immense wealth to the country and thus spurred the economic development, it also brought pollution to the waterways of Singapore. The solution? A decade of collaboration and hard work, spearheaded by people who had a vision for a closer-knit community and a better future. This is a story determination, perseverance and great leadership, of the largest-scale clean up in the history of Singapore.
The Past:
Singapore's River Pollution
Following World War II, economic hardship crippled the island country of Singapore. To the then ruling British colonial government focused on securing people’s livelihood and also providing better education for the children of Singapore. Due to Singapore’s strategic geographical location, it was the main trading point between the East and the West. The banks of the Singapore river were replete with trade and prosperity - the dawn of Singapore’s prosperity. However, as time progressed, the flourishing trade not only wealth, but also water pollution problems too. To many of Singapore’s early immigrants and settlers, the Singapore River symbolized life and economic sustenance.
a victim of its own success
1. 26,000 families were relocated from unsanitary slums to high-rise public housing.
2. 4926 food hawkers were relocated into food centres built by HDB & Jurong Town Corporation.
3. In March 1982, the Primary Production Department succeeded in relocating all pig and duck farms from catchment areas.
4. The Singapore River and Kallang Basin were cleaned up by 1987, removing the foul odour from the Singapore river. Since then, aquatic life has returned to the rivers.
effects
The next task was to manage and control pollution. Because of the high degree of urbanisation, problems such as littering and sullage water discharge still remain. To keep the rivers clean, engineering measures were adapted to minimise pollution of the rivers. Vertical gratings were installed at selected outlet drains leading to main canals and rivers to prevent litter and debris inside the drains from entering the canals and rivers. In addition, float booms were installed at strategic locations in rivers and canals to prevent litter and debris in the rivers and canals from entering the Kallang Basin and Singapore River. The debris trapped by the gratings and booms are removed for disposal daily. Programmes were also carried out to educate the public against littering and the discharge of wastes into the rivers.
Another key factor in water pollution control is the effective enforcement of legislation. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure that all wastewater is discharged into the sewerage system and trade effluent treatment facilities installed by industries are properly and efficiently operated and maintained.
The total cost was S$200 million.
what were the measures taken to maintain
the cleanliness of the singapore river?
Above: Timeline of events during cleanup of Singapore river
Graphic credit: Team member Zhou Yiying
