Measures to Ensure New Buildings and Estates are Designed for Easier Maintenance to Minimise Mosquito Breeding

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked the Minister for National Development in view of the increasing number of dengue cases and the expected challenges of this problem worsening due to global warming, what are the measures to ensure that new buildings and estates are designed for easier maintenance to minimise mosquito breeding.

NEA's Code of Practice on Environmental Health (COPEH) provides guidelines to address environmental health concerns in the design of buildings. This includes anti-mosquito breeding measures such as installing anti-mosquito devices at floor traps and using HDB-patented air-conditioner trays that do not trap stagnant water, if necessary. Roof gutters which can be clogged and become mosquito breeding sites are also disallowed in new developments. Developers are required to adopt the stipulated guidelines.

HDB references the Code of Practice for anti-mosquito breeding measures, and considers ease of maintenance in the design of its buildings and estates. Measures adopted by HDB projects include providing an adequate gradient for roofs, paved-areas, and drains, to prevent water stagnation and mosquito breeding. Rainwater from roofs is also drained off directly through rainwater downpipes instead of through roof gutters. Additionally, anti-mosquito and insect filter devices are provided for floor traps within internal HDB units and common areas in HDB estates.

For landscaping of HDB estates, some of HDB's design guidelines help prevent mosquito breeding. For example, HDB avoids growing plants that may potentially trap water (e.g. those that act as receptacles or with thick axils).

HDB regularly reviews the design and provision of features when new technology to aid maintenance becomes available, and takes in feedback from Town Councils or residents through post-occupation surveys.