To realize the full potential of this water infrastructure, PUB, the national water agency, launched the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Program in 2006. This strategic initiative harnesses the full potential of our water bodies to improve the quality not only of water but also of our life.
Transforming into a City of Gardens 4
The ABC Waters Concept encapsulates Singapore's ideology of harnessing the full potential of our waters and integrating them into our environment and lifestyle. The implementation of ABC Waters' design features has also been recognized by several government agencies, including the Building & Construction Authority (BCA).
Benefits of Embracing the ABC 6
ABC Waters design features use natural purification processes to protect water quality in our reservoirs and waterways, enhance the aesthetics and biodiversity of the landscape, and slow the flow of stormwater runoff. In this section, we take a closer look at a sustainable stormwater management strategy - the ABC Water Management Strategy.
Holistic Stormwater Management 9
When adopted holistically as part of drainage system design, ABC Waters design features will help introduce additional flexibility into the system to handle intense rainfall events beyond the design storm. In particular, the design features of ABC Waters could be linked to other stormwater retention systems (ie, reservoirs, surface ponds, etc.) to reduce peak flows caused by intense rainfall events.
ABC Waters Management Strategy 10
This publication provides specific guidance for the selection, sizing, construction and maintenance of ABC Waters design features. Details of the base layers are given in the Engineering Procedures for aBC Waters Design Features.
Treatment Elements 32
As such, it is important that vegetated swales are carefully designed to integrate with the features of the surrounding landscape. Vegetation plays a key role in maintaining the porosity of the soil media of the bioretention system and also in absorbing nutrients from the percolating surface runoff. Maintaining healthy vegetation, as it plays a key role in maintaining the porosity of the soil media and absorbing nutrients from percolating surface runoff.
If space is limited, a sedimentation forebay can be included as an integral part of the rain garden. Vegetation plays a key role in maintaining surface porosity of the filter media and in absorbing nutrients from the percolating surface runoff. Maintaining healthy vegetation growth as it plays a key role in maintaining soil media porosity and nutrient uptake from percolating surface runoff.
The planner must ensure that the installation of ABC Waters structural elements does not result in accumulation/flooding of adjacent areas. In the event that test slopes are not possible, adequate safety barriers must be provided at the edge of the bioretention system. Fire and other hazards can be considered as an integral part of the overall development.
Construction Stage 55
There are various methods of educating the public about the proper and safe use of the facilities, in addition to the roles and functions of the ABC Waters design elements. ABC Waters design features (eg, bioretention systems, vegetation and wetlands, etc.) are based on the establishment of good vegetation to treat stormwater runoff. ABC Waters design features are designed to clean stormwater runoff from which vegetation can draw its nutrient needs. . iii) Bioretention filter layer Soil porosity.
Maintenance requirements for key features of ABC Waters design features can be found in Chapter 4. Specific maintenance checklists are provided in Engineering Procedures for ABC Waters Design Features. The ABC Waters certification scheme is assessed based on four categories - Active, Beautiful, Clean and Innovation.
Following the introduction of the ABC Waters Professional program, the ABC Waters Professional Registry was launched in May 2013.
Drainage Handbook on Managing 72
An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all the plants, animals and microorganisms (biotic factors) in an area that function together with all the non-living physical (abiotic) factors of the environment. The ratio of the gross floor area of the building(s) in a development to its floor area. Vegetated gullies are placed along each of the three fingers of green to convey water from the road drains to the scrub biotope for treatment.
With vantage points and educational signage, visitors can learn more about the features and capabilities of the system's ABC Waters design features. Part of the bioretention swales run along and across the jogging track, thus giving park users a closer overview of this ABC Waters design function. Minimum earthworks and no export/import of soil were involved in the construction of the park.
The lake system, which consists of Dragonfly Lake and Kingfisher Lake, is designed to be an extension of the Navy Reservoir.
Gardens by the Bay 84
Developed by the National Parks Board (NParks), Gardens by the Bay is a key part of the Singapore Government's City in a Garden vision, which grew from Singapore's reputation as a Garden City. The built-in garden irrigation system also uses the naturally treated water from the lake system. To improve the cleansing and ecological function of the lake system, a water-sensitive landscape design was implemented.
Filter beds composed of water reeds are located where water enters and flows out of the lake. A 44 km boardwalk near Dragon Lake brings people close to the reed beds and filter beds. With a wide range of aquatic plants, good water circulation and aeration, the lake system is an ideal habitat for fish and dragonflies.
This premium residential complex is located on 20 hectares of tree conservation area in the prime district of Orchard-Scotts in the heart of Singapore.
Goodwood Residence 86
Reed beds are integrated with the landscaped surfaces at ground level to serve as a biofiltration system by filtering runoff as well as daily irrigation water from a 12-story vertical green wall. Integrated into ground-level landscape areas, reed beds serve as a biofiltration system by purifying stormwater runoff. Adopting a concept for integrating the park with the river, one of the main features of the redevelopment is the restoration of the concrete channel into a naturalized river with bioengineered riverbanks, using a variety of plants and natural materials.
The gently sloping riverbanks are part of the park features and park users can walk along the water's edge. During storms, the water level in the river will rise and the area adjacent to the river will be used to collect rainwater. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is home to diverse flora and fauna, with the natural river and existing water bodies within the park playing an important role in promoting biodiversity.
Completed in March 2012, the project has created more green and blue spaces for the public to enjoy in one of Singapore's most popular parks.
Kallang River @ Bishan- 88
This is the first time that soil bioengineering techniques have been applied in urbanized Singapore, and a test bed was previously built to evaluate the suitability of the various techniques and plants in the country's tropical climate. Water is pumped from the river and the downstream dams into the various cells of the purifying biotope, and is filtered before the clean water is returned to the dams and finally flows back to the river. Part of the treated water from the purifying biotope also undergoes UV treatment and is supplied to a water playground.
The tranquil water environment of the pond and the green surroundings provide a great sense of calm and peace to the visitors and patients. Various bio-ponds are provided in the landscaped area of the basement and on the first floor of the hospital. With a promenade leading to the spiral pavilion located in the center of the biopond, residents are able to embrace nature to the fullest.
In addition, the edge of the pond was designed as an embankment to encourage the landing of grazing birds.
Rivervale Arc 94
In addition, rain gardens increase biodiversity on the property, as flora and fauna will naturally gravitate to water sources in the landscape. In partnership with the National University of Singapore, PUB has introduced three new rain gardens in local schools. Its aim was to remove some of the existing limitations of setting up rain gardens in Singapore and to encourage community participation in the implementation of rain gardens.
Conventional rain gardens have three well-graded layers of soil and underground pipes that must be connected to a deep enough drain nearby. In addition, the soil medium needs engineering expertise to prepare and this also limits the widespread use of rain gardens. To address these limitations, the NUS team designed and installed three trial beds with rain gardens in three local schools: Nanyang Junior College, Anglo-Chinese Junior College and Dunman High School.
The engineered soils and native plant species used in these gardens were derived from previous laboratory research to determine their suitability for use in local rain gardens.
Soak Away Rain Gardens in 96
On this circular viewing deck that connects Clementi Road to Connector Park, visitors can enjoy a charming view of Sungei Ulu Pandan and also get an overview of the stormwater runoff treatment trains from the drain to the river through the cleaning biotope. Aquatic plants are planted along the edge to help remove nutrients in stormwater runoff increasing the area's biodiversity. The 100-meter-long gully along the green buffer of the development filters, intercepts and treats stormwater runoff.
Stormwater runoff from about 10 percent of the development site is collected and soaked through soil filter media and plants before being discharged to the surface drain. ABC Water's design features part of the natural drainage system to retain and treat stormwater runoff from about 70 percent of the site. In addition to enhancing the area's biodiversity, ABC Water's design features also enhance the neighborhood's aesthetics.
A comprehensive system of bioretention basins is an important part of the natural drainage system in this area to capture and treat stormwater runoff for frequent storms (storms with a three-month return period).
Telok Kurau Primary School 102
The Interlace 104
The Peak @ Toa Payoh 106
Tree House 108
Waterway Ridges @ Punggol East 110