~ Local Catchment Areas – Tap 3

This is also one of the many methods that they use to increase their water supply. They use their local reservoirs and catchment areas to provide water to households. Reservoirs are built to collect storm water. Singapore is a small island with less physical space hence, Singapore does not have natural aquifers and lakes; therefore, Singapore has little land available to build reservoirs to catch rain water.

Singapore needs to maximise whatever it can harvest. Singapore built many reservoirs that Singapore’s total catchment area is 2/3 of the whole island. The total catchment area in Singapore includes 19 raw water reservoirs, 32 major rivers, 9 treatment works and 17 service reservoirs to treat water. Over 7000 canal and drains are built to direct rain water into the reservoirs to provide us with drinking water. MacRitchie, Seletar and Pierce reservoirs are built so as to maximise the storage of storm water. They are also built to act as a tidal barrier to prevent flooding in low-lying city areas, for example, the Marina reservoir.

MacRitche.

The Marina Barrage also keeps the water levels constant and serves as a freshwater lake to aid in Singapore’s water supply. It also serves as a recreational spot and allows water-based activities to be held there. The marina Barrage is Singapore’s largest freshwater reservoir.

Marina Barrage.

This makes Singapore one of the few countries in the world to harvest urban storm water on a large scale for its water supply. Singapore also has two separate systems to collect rainwater and used water. Rainwater is collected through a comprehensive network of drains, canals, rivers, storm-water collection ponds and reservoirs before it is treated for drinking water supply. This makes Singapore one of the few countries in the world to harvest urban storm-water on a large-scale for its water supply.

Marina Reservoir.

Singapore has two separate systems to collect rainwater and used water. Rainwater is collected through a comprehensive network of drains, canals, rivers, storm-water collection ponds and reservoirs before it is treated for drinking water supply. This makes Singapore one of the few countries in the world to harvest urban storm-water on a large-scale for its water supply.

This method is seen viable as it makes use of natural resources such ask rain water and converts it into drinkable water for the Singapore population. The reservoirs also creates a barrier against floods into the city area which is very helpful to Singapore. This also makes use of unlimited sources.