Singapore River Clean Up

1. Singapore River Clean Up 1977 - 1986

2. Singapore River Before Clean-Up • River was “dead” • Smelly, dirty, septic, black and devoid of fish/aquatic life • River used as - • open sewer • rubbish dump

3. “It should be a way of life to keep the river clean, to keep every stream, every culvert, every rivulet free from unnecessary pollution. In 10 years, let us have fishing in Singapore River and fishing in Kallang River. It can be done” Lee Kuan Yew Upper Pierce Reservoir Opening 27 February 1977

4. Singapore River Catchment 1/5 Singapore (7,800 ha)

5. Sources of Pollution Squatter colonies Premises without sanitation Street hawkers Street vegetable/fruit wholesalers Pig and duck farms Cottage/backyard industries, motor repair workshops Ship and boat repair yards Lighters

6. Sources of Pollution

7. Riverine Activities Kallang Basin Rochor River Singapore River (Jiak Kim Street)

8. Squatter Colony

9. Discarded Rubbish

10. Street Hawkers - Chinatown

11. Wastewater and Rubbish From Street Hawkers Drain at Havelock Road

12. Challenges • Not just unclogging the river • Engineering solutions alone to remove pollution inadequate • Need to tackle causes and sources of pollution • Providing alternative way of life, giving people a different lifeline to the future • Developing proper environmental infrastructure • Building houses, markets/food centres, industrial premises/workshops and other facilities

13. Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) Led by then Ministry of the Environment, comprising Ministry of the EnvironmentMinistry of Trade & Industries Pollution Control Department Public Utilities Board Sewerage Department Jurong Town Corporation Drainage Department Environmental Health Department Ministry of Communications & Industries Hawkers Department Port of Singapore Authority Ministry of National DevelopmentMinistry of Law Urban Redevelopment Authority Land Office Housing & Development Board Public Works Department Primary Production Department Parks & Recreation Department Resettlement Department

14. In 1977, Singapore drew up a Master Plan for a 10-year programme to clean up Singapore River and Kallang Basin

15. Goals • Remove/Control sources of pollution • Ensure quality of water in river • can support fish and other aquatic life • is suitable for water recreational activities

16. Strategy • Pollution Prevention • Legislation and Enforcement • Monitoring of Water Quality • Public Education • River Rehabilitation

17. Approach • Pollution Eradication/Control • Identify pollution sources & formulate measures to remove them • Upgrade environmental infra and construct new infra • Review existing institutional structure and legislation to strengthen environmental pollution control • Resettle industries, lighters, squatters, street hawkers, etc • Develop Action Programmes to remove pollution sources • River rehabilitation and beautification

18. Singapore River/Kallang Basin • River is clean • Fish and aquatic lives have returned • River now used for recreational activities such as water skiing, boating, fishing, etc • River cruises • Riverside walks landscaped • Sandy beaches • Developments along river banks

19. Key Success Factors • Political Will • Inter-agencies Coordination • Partnership with stakeholders • Sustainability in keeping river clean

20. Before & After Singapore River (Robertson Quay) Singapore River (North Boat Quay) 1981 1987 1980 1987

21. Before & After Singapore River (Jiak Kim Street) Kallang River (Kampong Bugis) 1982 1983 1987 1987

22. Clean River “Hong Bao” Night at Singapore River 1984

23. Clean River River Cruises Singapore River Clarke Quay Singapore River

24. After Clean-Up

25. Thank You