Singapore's Journey in Flood Management - A Story of Resilience and Adaptation

From Childhood Memories to Innovative Solutions

Retiree Xu Si Ming vividly remembers his childhood home at Margaret Drive being flooded in the 1960s and 70s. Heavy rains would turn the ground floor into a chest-deep pool of water, forcing him to move furniture upstairs. "It was a constant worry," he recalls. "You had to be careful not to fall into the drains hidden beneath the floodwater."

These early decades of Singapore's independence were marked by frequent floods that devastated farms and even caused fatalities. Around 3,200 hectares of land were vulnerable to flooding. While the situation has improved with the expansion of Singapore's drainage network, heavy rains still cause flooding in some areas.

"We need land for roads, buildings, and schools. Widening drains is expensive and takes away valuable space."

Experts suggest shifting the focus from total flood prevention to risk management. Associate Professor Tay Zhi Yung of the Singapore Institute of Technology proposes practical solutions like detention tanks and nature-based approaches. He emphasizes the need for innovative solutions, especially in areas with limited space.

PUB, Singapore's national water agency, relies on a rainfall monitoring and prediction system to deploy Quick Response Teams to potential flood areas. They are also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to enhance these capabilities.

Looking ahead, engineers propose innovative solutions like flood barriers along canals and modular block systems under roads to collect stormwater. Nature-based measures like green roofs and rain gardens are also being explored to slow down stormwater flow.

Singapore's flood management journey is a testament to years of effort and continuous innovation. As the island nation faces the challenges of climate change and population growth, these efforts will become even more crucial in protecting its people and infrastructure from the threat of floods.