6,000 roadside drains to get new inlets

By Poon Chian Hui, The Straits Times, 12 Jun 2012

AFTER a successful trial of an anti-flooding idea from a member of the public, the authorities are going ahead to modify 6,000 roadside drains.

They will be equipped with a newly designed inlet that channels water vertically from the roads into the drains.

The revamp will affect about 100 places islandwide, including flood-prone areas in Boon Lay, Benoi Sector, Jalan Wangyi and Wee Nam Road.

National water agency PUB called for a tender last Friday for this project, and construction is expected to start in early August. It is slated to be completed next July.

This follows a trial at the junction of Thomson Road and Olive Road in March.

The vertical drain gratings, embedded at the side of the kerb, are placed alongside the regular horizontal drain gratings.

During the trial, the PUB observed that when the horizontal gratings became covered with leaves, the vertical slats were able to continue draining storm water, said a spokesman.

The PUB is unable to disclose how much this project is likely to cost as the tender has yet to close, but each of the inlets used in the trial cost about $600.

Of the 6,000 modified drain chambers to be built, some 1,700 involve converting existing scupper holes into the new drain chambers. The rest are to replace the old-design drain chambers.

Scupper holes are semi-circular holes on the roadside next to kerbs that channel storm water into drains. But they can also become blocked by litter and leaves.

Singapore has been affected by serious flash floods in the past year, prompting the PUB to form an expert panel last July to come up with answers.

Earlier this January, it announced that it will spend $750 million over the next five years on 20 drainage projects after accepting the panel's recommendations.