Singapore River Clean Up 1977 1986 Singapore River

Singapore River Clean Up 1977 - 1986

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

“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

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

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

Sources of Pollution

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

Squatter Colony

Discarded Rubbish

Street Hawkers - Chinatown

Wastewater and Rubbish From Street Hawkers Drain at Havelock Road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clean River “Hong Bao” Night at Singapore River 1984

Clean River Cruises Singapore River Clarke Quay Singapore River

After Clean-Up

Thank You