PUB explores developing underground drainage and reservoir system

SINGAPORE — To mitigate the impact of climate change and increased risk of droughts reducing the yield of surface reservoirs, national water agency PUB will be conducting a 24-month study to look at the feasibility of creating an underground drainage and reservoir system.

Announcing this at the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Technology and Innovation Summit today (June 16), Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakhrishnan said Singapore is short of land to capture and store the 2400mm of rainfall it receives every year, which ends up being discharged into the sea. At the same time, prolonged droughts dry out our reservoirs, leading to water shortage.

With climate change increasing the probability of both intense storms and periods of drought, Mr Balakhrishnan added an underground drainage and reservoir system will mitigate the impact of climate change and increase our drought resilience.

Design options of the underground system would include three key components: storm water conveyance tunnels, underground reservoir caverns and a pumped storage hydropower station.

The feasibility study, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2017, will include geological surveys for detailed information on soils and rock properties that is suitable for the location and development of caverns and underground reservoir.