Debated in Parliament on 13 Jul 2015.
Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the total amount spent on the ABC Waters Programme since its launch in 2006; (b) what are the key benefits that have been reaped from it; (c) what has been the main impact of opening our water catchment areas to the public for recreation; (d) what is the cost of cleaning our waterways each year and what is the main debris that has been removed; and (e) how many more ABC Waters projects will there be and what is the budget allocated over the next 10 years.
PUB launched the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters, or "ABC Waters" Programme in 2006 as a long-term initiative to transform Singapore’s utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs into beautiful streams, rivers and lakes that are well-integrated with the surrounding parks and community spaces.
Through the Programme, stormwater run-off is detained and treated using ABC Waters design features before they reach the waterways. These features are environmentally sustainable green features integrated with the urban development. The waterways and water bodies are also enhanced aesthetically, creating new community, social and recreational spaces near water and encouraging new lifestyle activities and attractions to flourish at these spaces. As Singaporeans enjoy our waters, they will cultivate and develop a sense of shared ownership towards our water resource. The ABC Waters Programme enhances our quality of life, and brings us closer to the vision of transforming Singapore into a "City of Gardens and Water".
As of end May 2015, PUB has completed 27 ABC Waters projects across Singapore at a total cost of approximately $134 million. Under the Programme, PUB has also opened 974 ha of reservoirs and 94.6 km of waterways to the public for recreation. The Programme has been very well-received by the public. So far, more than 1,800 community events have been held at various completed ABC Waters projects. The Programme has also been successful at encouraging communities to take ownership of our waterways. Under PUB’s Friends of Water Programme, 316 community groups have adopted Singapore’s waterways, with 275 taking ownership of ABC Waters projects. These groups care for our waters by conducting clean-ups, carrying out learning trials to facilitate experiential learning about water management and encouraging people to enjoy water responsibly.
Arising from various measures taken by PUB and stakeholders’ involvement, our waterways are cleaner than before. That said, it is unavoidable that some debris will end up in the water. Most of the debris consists of fallen leaves. To keep our waterways clean, the Department of Public Cleanliness (DPC) from NEA deploys contractors to clean public drains regularly under its integrated public cleaning contracts. About $37 million a year is allocated
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to the cleaning of public drains.
Looking forward, we hope to enlist the help of every Singaporean to care for our waters. PUB will continue its efforts under the ABC Waters Programme to bring people closer to water, so that they can enjoy and cherish this precious resource. PUB is looking at implementing over 100 ABC Waters projects by 2030. In addition to the 27 completed projects, 23 projects have been approved to date for implementation under the Programme. If resources permit, more projects will be carried out in future phases of the Programme. By 2030, we plan to increase the total area of reservoirs and length of waterways opened to the public to 1,039 ha and 100 km respectively.
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