Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts, 36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963. Tel: 3757794/5

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SPEECH BY MR YEO CHEOW TONG,

MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,

AT THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY

OF THE ULU PANDAN SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS

COMPACT AND COVERED EXTENSION

ON TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 1997, AT 10.30 AM

Modern sanitation is crucial to good public health by keeping our water resources pollution free. Recognising this, the Government made the provision of modern sanitation a key programme in the early 1960's when we obtained our self-governance from the British. Since then, the Government has invested heavily in expanding and upgrading our sewerage infrastructure to meet our rising housing, commercial and industrial needs.

2 As our standard of living improves, the expectations of the general public with regard to the sewage treatment works have also gradually changed. Whereas in the past, the people in the vicinity of the sewage works were prepared to tolerate the occasional whiff of the odorous products handled by the works, today, they are likely to be less forgiving. This has led to my Ministry embarking in 1994 on a programme to cover 3 of our existing sewage treatment works (STWs). These are the Kranji, Seletar and Ulu Pandan STWs. We also had to expand these STWs to cope with the increase in wastewater flows from housing, commercial and industrial developments within their catchments.

3 For these STWs extensions, we have adopted the compact and covered design. This approach, though more expensive, allows us to better utilise our limited land resources. With this design, we are able to reduce the buffer land around the STWs, which is needed to contain the odours from the STWs. The buffer land thus freed can then be used for other developments. Recently, we have also commissioned a feasibility study for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage Scheme (DTSS). The DTSS is a long-term solution to further release the land that are presently occupied by 6 STWs and its related pumping stations, for other developments.

4 The projects for the covering up and extension of the Kranji and Seletar STWs are in progress. Today, we are here to witness yet another of my Ministry's projects aimed at upgrading and extending our existing sewerage handling facilities. The extension to the Ulu Pandan STW will increase its capacity by 75,000 cubic metres per day, bringing Ulu Pandan STW's total capacity to some 360,000 cubic metres per day. The entire project will be completed in early 2000.

5 Under the Ulu Pandan STW extension, we have awarded 4 contracts comprising a civil works contract and 3 mechanical and electrical contracts, which altogether amount to some $380 million. This is the single largest project ever awarded by the Sewerage Department.

6 I am happy that this extension project will largely involve local contractors, including Sembawang Engineering and Construction Pte Ltd and Jurong Engineering Limited. The local companies will have the opportunity to work closely with foreign companies like Mitsubishi Corporation, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company Ltd and Cegelec in implementing the project. This will widen their experience in the design and construction of STWs, and help them to venture into the region for such projects.

7 On this note, let me end by wishing the contractors and all involved a smooth progress on the project.

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