Singapore's Water Pollution: Understanding The Primary Causes

Water pollution in Singapore is a pressing issue due to the country's limited water resources and small size. The country's rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to various sources of water pollution, including littering, industrial waste, and oil from trading vessels. Singapore's unique challenges, such as its limited land area and high population density, have resulted in a high intensity of land use, impacting water quality. Corrective measures and treatment processes are in place to address water pollution, and the country has developed a diversified water supply strategy, including the use of NEWater, to ensure a sustainable supply of clean water for its residents.

Littering

Singapore, a small island nation with limited land for rainwater collection, has faced challenges in securing a sustainable water supply due to early struggles with drought, floods, and water pollution. The country has since developed a robust and diversified water supply strategy, leveraging local catchments, imported water, NEWater (high-grade reclaimed water), and desalinated water.

The country's rapid urban development has brought human activities closer to water catchment areas, increasing the risk of pollutants entering reservoirs through the drainage system. Inconsiderate actions, such as littering, further exacerbate the problem. To address this, Singapore has implemented measures like float booms and litter traps to prevent litter from entering reservoirs.

The PUB, Singapore's national water agency, plays a crucial role in water management. They have implemented regulations for proper waste disposal and put forth the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme, transforming waterways and reservoirs into recreational spaces for the public to appreciate and help maintain.

While corrective measures are in place, public education and individual responsibility are vital to combat littering and water pollution. It is essential for individuals to dispose of litter properly and maintain clean drains, rivers, and reservoirs. By doing so, Singapore can protect its precious water resources and ensure a sustainable future for its water supply.

Industrial waste

Singapore, a small island nation with limited land for rainwater collection, has faced water pollution since its early years of nation-building. The country's rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to various human activities that produce pollutants, which can be carried through the drainage system into reservoirs and waterways.

To address this issue, Singapore has implemented several measures and regulations. The Singapore Environment Ministry enacted the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act in 1975, mandating that effluents be discharged into sewers rather than surface waters. This legislation aimed to reduce the amount of untreated wastewater from industries that was polluting surface waters.

The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has also played a crucial role in managing industrial waste. They have put in place regulations for industries to ensure proper waste disposal and prevent substances like silt and chemicals from being washed into waterways. One of their strategies includes reclaiming used water from industrial sources for non-potable use, thereby reducing the strain on freshwater sources.

However, despite these efforts, industrial waste remains a challenge. Singapore's unique context, with a high intensity of land use, means that industrial facilities are often located near water bodies. This proximity increases the risk of pollution incidents and accidental discharges.

To further mitigate industrial waste pollution, Singapore could consider implementing more stringent effluent guidelines for industries, particularly those located close to water bodies. Additionally, investing in advanced wastewater treatment technologies and promoting industrial eco-parks, where businesses can collaborate to minimise waste and share treatment facilities, could help reduce the environmental impact of industrial activities.

Through a combination of regulatory measures, technological advancements, and sustainable industrial practices, Singapore can effectively manage industrial waste and reduce its impact on the country's precious water resources.

Oil from trading vessels

Singapore is a major maritime hub and has one of the busiest ports in the world. It is also a marine bunkering centre and an oil refining centre with a high volume of marine trade and shipping traffic daily. As a result, the Straits of Singapore is considered to be one of the world's hotspots for oil spills. Since 1960, Singapore and Malaysia have suffered 39 spills totalling at least 34 tonnes.

The Straits of Singapore is a busy sea lane, linking East Asia to Europe. It is approximately 113 km long and 5 to 12 km wide, with its narrowest navigable width at 2.9 km. This makes the Straits of Singapore highly vulnerable to oil spills.

There have been several major oil spills in the Straits of Singapore. In 1972, the Shell supertanker, Myrtea, ran aground west of Pulau Bukom, leaking 1,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea. In 1975, a Japanese supertanker, Showa Maru, ran aground off Pulau Sebarok, spilling 3,300 tonnes of crude oil. In 1987, a Liberian-registered tanker, Stolt Advance, ran aground southeast of St John's Island. More recently, in 2014, three ship collisions in two months caused a total of 760 tonnes of fuel oil to be spilled into Singapore's waters. In 2017, an oil spill in Malaysia's southern state of Johor, caused by the collision of two container vessels, drifted into Singapore's territorial waters, affecting water quality at the beaches of Changi, Pasir Ris, and Punggol.

Oil spills have a devastating impact on the marine environment. They can coat beaches and the surface of the sea with a black, tar-like substance. They can also affect marine life, with reports of sea snails and other creatures coated in oil during clean-up operations. Oil spills can also have a significant impact on the nation's food security, with farms reporting huge losses of fish due to oil and chemical exposure within a contaminated habitat.

Following an oil spill, a comprehensive clean-up operation is mounted by Singapore's National Parks Board and National Environment Agency, in coordination with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Contractors use oil absorbents, such as sorbents, to mop up the oil spill, and pack oil-stained sand into trash bags for disposal. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has published rates for anti-pollution services in the event of an oil spill.

Urbanisation

Singapore's rapid urbanisation has come at the cost of neglecting the natural environment, according to a report by the National University of Singapore. The small size of the island means that much of its urban development is near or within water catchment areas, which poses a challenge to keeping the rainwater collected clean.

Many human activities produce pollutants that can be carried via the drainage system into reservoirs when it rains, affecting water quality. Urbanisation has also made waterways and reservoirs more accessible, exposing them to littering and other inconsiderate actions. The government has implemented measures to combat this, such as using float booms and litter traps to prevent litter from entering reservoirs and building underground walls to protect reservoirs from landfill seepage.

The country's urban growth has also led to an increase in industrial facilities, which contribute to water pollution through the discharge of unwanted materials and waste chemicals. To address this, the Singapore Environment Ministry enacted the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act 1975, which requires effluents to be discharged into sewers rather than surface waters. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has also put in place regulations for industry players to ensure that waste is properly disposed of and that substances such as silt and chemicals are not washed into waterways.

In addition to industrial pollution, urbanisation has brought about a rise in transport vehicles, which are a significant source of air pollution in Singapore. The country has also become one of the largest importers of sand for land reclamation, impacting the environment beyond its shores.

Overall, while urbanisation has brought about economic growth and development in Singapore, it has also contributed to water pollution through human activities, industrial waste, and increased accessibility to waterways. The government and relevant agencies have implemented various measures to mitigate these issues and improve water quality.

Lack of coordination among institutions

Singapore's rapid development into an urban nation has neglected the natural environment, according to a report published by the National University of Singapore. The report ranked the country as the "worst environmental offender among 179 countries", a claim the government refuted, citing Singapore's "limited land size" and "high intensity of land use" as unique challenges.

Singapore's small size means that much of its urban development is near or within water catchment areas. Many human activities produce pollutants that can be carried via the drainage system into reservoirs when it rains, affecting water quality. Urbanisation also makes waterways and reservoirs more accessible, exposing them to littering.

One of the core issues causing water pollution in Singapore is the lack of coordination among relevant institutions, missing political will, and apathetic societies. While long-term planning, policy-making, and a strong political will have been instrumental in giving water management a high priority in the national agenda, the lack of coordination among institutions has hindered progress.

Singapore has implemented various measures to address water pollution, including the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act 1975, which focuses on discharging effluents into sewers and regulating water quality. The Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA) 1968 aimed to integrate environmental health responsibilities and create standards for health-related issues, including cleaning and food services. However, it did not cover air and water pollution.

The country also relies on four sources for its water supply: local catchment, imported water, high-grade reclaimed water (NEWater), and desalinated water. By 2060, NEWater and desalination are expected to meet up to 85% of Singapore's future water demand.

Despite these efforts, water pollution persists in Singapore, highlighting the need for improved coordination among institutions and a shift in societal attitudes towards the environment.

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