By Chew, Valerie written on 10-Nov-2008
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Marina Reservoir was officially opened on 31 October 2008. It was created with the completion of Marina Barrage, a low-level dam built across Marina Channel to separate the water in Marina Basin from the seawater. Managed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), it is Singapore's 15th reservoir and first city reservoir. Its 10,000-hectare catchment is the largest of all the reservoir catchments. However, water in the reservoir will not enter Singapore's water supply system until the existing seawater is completely flushed out in one to two years' time.

History
The idea of building the reservoir came from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew when he was prime minister of Singapore. In the 1987 documentary titled River Reborn, which examined the government's efforts to clean up Singapore River and Kallang River, Lee spoke about his vision of putting a barrage at the mouth of Marina Channel to create a massive freshwater lake. This had come at the end of the government's ten-year drive to clean up the rivers, which were by then so clean that fish had returned. Lee believed that there could be breakthroughs in anti-pollution and filtration technologies in 20 years' time that would make his vision feasible.

In 2004, after years of studying Lee's idea, the government called a tender for the building of the barrage and reservoir. Local contractor Koh Brothers won the contract and commenced construction in early 2005.

Description
With a catchment that is about one-sixth of Singapore's total land area, Marina Reservoir plays an important role in helping Singapore to achieve self-sufficiency in its water supply by 2061, when the country's water agreements with Malaysia expire. The water in the reservoir is currently a mixture of seawater and freshwater, but the seawater will be flushed out into the sea gradually as more rainwater fills the reservoir. When the water becomes entirely freshwater by 2010 or 2011, it will be piped to water treatment plants where it will be processed into potable water. PUB has estimated that the reservoir will be able to meet more than 10% of Singapore's current water demand.

Surface water from major waterways such as Singapore River, Kallang River and Rochor Canal flows into the reservoir. Because of the huge size of its catchment, it will not be able to store all the water supplied by its upstream waterways. However, instead of going to waste, the excess water will be channelled to Upper Peirce Reservoir for storage.

In addition to augmenting Singapore's domestic water supply, Marina Reservoir serves as a new lifestyle attraction and enhances the vibrancy of the city. With the water in the reservoir kept at a constant level, a wide range of water sports such as kayaking, sailing and waterskiing can take place here all year round. The reservoir also provides a scenic backdrop for recreational activities on land, including picnics and cultural performances. Other attractions in the area include the Marina Barrage Visitor Centre and the pedestrian bridge that allows visitors to walk from one end of the barrage to the other.

Managing Pollution
The Marina catchment is not only the largest, but it is also the most urbanised. It covers an extensive area that includes residential, industrial and commercial hubs such as Ang Mo Kio, Queenstown, Eunos and the central business district. This means that more effort will be needed to minimise upstream pollution and ensure that the water that drains into the reservoir is clean.

To this end, PUB has tapped the expertise of Dutch consulting firm Delft Hydraulics, a well-known name in the water industry. In June 2006, Delft won a S$4.8-million government contract that required it to develop water quality and operational management tools for the reservoir and its catchment, among other things.

Timeline
1987 : Lee mooted the idea of creating a freshwater reservoir at the Marina area.
1998 : Then Ministry of the Environment, now known as the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, said that it was studying the idea.
Jun 2004 : PUB called an open tender for the construction of the reservoir and barrage.
Oct 2004 : Tender closed. Nine groups submitted 48 proposals.
Nov 2004 : Tender was awarded to Koh Brothers Building & Civil Engineering Contractor Pte Ltd for S$226 million.
22 Mar 2005 : A ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the official start of construction. Lee officiated at the event.
31 Oct 2008 : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially opened the reservoir and barrage.



Author
Valerie Chew



References
Marina Barrage - the beginning. (2005, March). WaterNet, 5-6.
(Call no.: RSING 363.61095957 W)

Marina Barrage unveiled. (2004, September). WaterNet, 8-9.
(Call no.: RSING 363.61095957 W)

Marina catchment. (2005, March). WaterNet, 8-9.
(Call no.: RSING 363.61095957 W)

Meng, Y. C. (2006, June 27). Dutch expertise to manage Marina catchment area. The Straits Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from Factiva database.

Public Utilities Board. (2004, November 11). PUB awards contract to build the Marina Barrage and Reservoir to Koh Brothers Building & Civil Engineering Contractor Pte Ltd [Press release]. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www.pub.gov.sg/mpublications/Pages/PressReleases.aspx?Print2=yes&ItemId=104

Teh, J. L. (2008, November 2). From creative vision to reality. The New Paper. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from Factiva database.


Further Readings
Basu, R. (2005, October 28). Tallest fountain here at Marina Reservoir. The Straits Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from Factiva database.

Public Utilities Board. (n.d.). Marina Barrage: Singapore's latest downtown icon. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/Pages/default.aspx



The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.