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SINGAPORE: Sungei Ulu Pandan is set to be the next hotspot for urban freshwater research in Singapore. It will have a new Aquatic Science Centre by the end of 2009, the first of its kind in Asia.
Besides training and research, the joint initiative by the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) will also double up as a public education centre.
The centre is a joint research initiative by the SDWA, comprising the National University of Singapore, PUB and Delft Hydraulics.
Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said: "This is a very important part of our work to ensure that our water quality is being monitored on a continuous basis.
"Yet at the same time, we want to develop knowledge and understanding of our water bodies - how is it we can use natural solutions to keep our water bodies clean and water flowing."
Nearly 20 researchers from various disciplines ranging from biology to engineering will look into integrated approaches to urban water problems.
These include improving water quality and supply, mitigating flood risks, and understanding the interaction between plants, soil and water bodies.
Associate Professor Vladan Babovic, Director, Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, said: "The challenges that we are trying to address are posed by greater urbanisation and the pressures that the environment feels as a consequence of centuries of human activities."
The proposed centre at Sungei Ulu Pandan is the first of three environmental observatories in the pipeline. The other two centres will be developed in a reservoir setting as well as a marine setting.
About S$9 million in funding will be poured into the 1,800 square-metre facility at Sungei Ulu Pandan.
Not just confined to research, the upcoming research centre also aims to play an educational role. It will be open to the public once completed at the end of 2009 to promote the appreciation of water and its conservation. - CNA/vm
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