Questions/Answers

With two-thirds of Singapore becoming water catchment, it is important to ensure in the long term that rainwater draining into canals and reservoirs is well managed in terms of quantity and quality. Putting in infrastructure to provide sufficient water supply is only one half of the equation to ensure water sustainability. Another part, which is equally important, is managing demand by encouraging Singaporeans to take ownership of water through conserving, valuing and enjoying our waters. The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme supports this effort in encouraging Singaporeans to keep our catchment water clean. The ABC Waters Programme was initiated by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency in 2006, to ensure a sustainable future for Singapore by radically transforming Singapore’s network of drains, canals and reservoirs beyond their traditional functions of drainage, flood control and water storage into beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes. This forms a seamless blue-green network which is well integrated with adjacent land developments, continuously creating new community spaces and encouraging new lifestyle activities to flourish in and around the waters. ABC Waters incorporates engineering, science, landscape design, behavioural framework of urban design, and a commitment to community involvement. The ABC Waters projects offer recreation spots that are free for all to enjoy, enhancing the quality of life in an urbanised, fast-paced society. As part of the design, innovative ABC Waters design features (environmentally sustainable green features) are seamlessly integrated with the urban environment to detain and treat rainwater run-off before it reaches the waterways. Through the ABC Waters Programme, we hope to bring people closer to water so they will appreciate and cherish this precious resource, and strive to keep Singapore’s water bodies clean. The ultimate vision is to transform Singapore into a vibrant City of Gardens and Water.

The ABC acronym encapsulates the fundamental objectives of the programme, which are: (i) ACTIVE – Providing new community spaces, bringing people closer to water through recreational activities. (ii) BEAUTIFUL – Transforming reservoirs and waterways into aesthetically pleasing lifestyle spaces that integrate well with the urban environment and to enhance the biodiversity of the area. (iii) CLEAN – Improving water quality through the use of ABC Waters design features and public education by building people-water relationship. A 3 prong approach was adopted in the implementation of this Programme: • Continuous Review of the ABC Waters Masterplan and implementation of ABC Waters projects • People, Public and Private (3P) Partnership Approach - Getting the community to take ownership of the projects • Promote adoption of the ABC Waters concept by other public agencies and private developers

PUB adopts a “3P (People, Public, Private) Partnership” approach in the implementation of the programme. Sustainability can only be achieved through a multi-stakeholder ownership approach. The approach includes: 1. Awareness – Creating interest in taking ownership of Singapore’s water resources 2. Adoption – Encouraging community involvement in doing their part for the water cause 3. Advocacy – Nurturing and building the capacity of partners to help them become advocates Publicity and community engagement programmes were rolled out; beginning with the “ABC Waters Public Exhibition” officiated by Singapore’s Prime Minister in February 2007. PUB also carried out extensive briefing sessions, consultations and roadshows involving political representatives, grassroots leaders and the community to share on the plans to be rolled out under the Programme. During the implementation of each specific project, stakeholders were consulted and engaged at the planning, construction and completion stages to ensure that projects were built on user needs. This engagement process has been carried out for all 36 built projects to date and as of 31 Jan, there are over 350 adopters under the ‘Friends of Water’ programme, of which the majority are educational institutions that have taken ownership of the completed projects.

1. Clean Waters and Sanitation 2. Sustainable Cities and Communities With investment in research and technology, Singapore has put in place a diversified and robust water supply through our Four National Taps, namely water from local catchments, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water. This diversification has allowed the nation to close the water loop and helped her take a step towards water sustainability. It also forms the backdrop for ABC Waters, as Singapore moves beyond water sufficiency to capitalise on the potential of water to enhance the quality of life. As our waterways are located close to the residential estates, often running through them, these have the potential to be developed as focal points for community and recreational activities. With this new thinking, parks no longer need to stop at the edge of water nor water kept confined in reservoirs and waterways. The blue and green spaces could be integrated, for example, by allowing a river to run through a park. Adopting a bold mind-set, PUB felt that the best way to get people to internalize these values was for them to enjoy and appreciate water bodies and waterways. With more opportunities for interaction, people will develop a sense of ownership, build a closer people-water relationship and cherish our valuable water resource.

The ABC Waters Programme supports the vision of the Sustainability Singapore Blueprint, in particular, to create a liveable and endearing home and to engender an active and gracious community. Given that Singapore will continue to experience land densification, ABC Waters projects encourages multiple use of space along the waterways and water bodies by providing additional blue-green spaces for the community to enjoy. This reduces the perceptions of crowdedness in Singapore. As more connectivity routes are established along waterways in support of the vision of a car-lite Singapore, ABC Waters projects also help to improve the experience of connectivity as thoroughfare along our waterways increases. ABC Waters design features such as rain gardens which are incorporated as part of the projects, offer the advantage of water quality improvement in our waterways and reservoirs via natural purification processes to detain and cleanse stormwater runoff. In addition, these environmentally friendly features enhance the aesthetics and biodiversity of the surrounding landscape.

By integrating the blue and green spaces within the living environment, accessibility and connectivity can be improved. An example is the Kallang River Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park ABC Waters project.This flagship project under the programme is a joint collaboration between PUB and the National Parks Board. It was designed with a holistic sustainable approach and concept of integrating the park with the river. The previous 2.7 km long straight concrete drainage channel has been restored into a 3 km natural river that meanders through the park. There is efficient use of land, with the river design based on a flood plain enabling multiple land uses within the park. In dry weather, the river flow will be confined to a narrow stream in the middle of the river, and the community can enjoy recreational activities along the river banks. During heavy rain, this same park land next to the river is used to convey rainwater downstream to Marina Reservoir, allowing it to continue to fulfil its drainage and water conveyance functions. The completed project site has been the venue for numerous communal activities for residents and park users. With the addition of more communal spaces, an average of 80 organised public events are held yearly since its completion. The project site also saw an increase in visitorship from 3 million (before redevelopment) to 4 million per year (after redevelopment).

The ABC Waters Programme taps on expertise in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, science and urban planning, and creatively incorporates these in the design of waterways and water bodies in the urban environment. ABC Waters projects play a part in ameliorating impact of densification by creating additional communal spaces along waterways and water bodies, and designing these as multifunctional spaces. By bringing the community closer to water through the enjoyment of these spaces, there can be a sense of stewardship developed towards water (as a precious resources). With water catchment areas covering two-thirds of Singapore, ABC Waters design features are innovative at-source solutions towards sustainable stormwater management, by detaining and treating run-off before it reaches the downstream waterways. These sustainable green features help to maintain the quality of rainwater run-off in an urbanised catchment, enhance the aesthetics and biodiversity of the urban landscape and are also versatile to accommodate various land needs. For example, they can be assimilated into landscape areas, plazas, architectural structures or even road verges and pedestrian walkways.

Although the ABC Waters Programme is unique to Singapore, the incorporation of ABC Waters design features such as bioretention systems and vegetated swales to detain and treat stormwater runoff has been used in other countries. Such design concepts are also known as Low Impact Design (LID in USA) and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD in Australia). These concepts and designs need to be adapted to suit the local conditions in Singapore. Hence, PUB has developed the “ABC Waters Design Guidelines” to guide local Professionals to design the features for use in the local context. The Guidelines also serve as a compilation of the various projects carried out in Singapore that have adopted the ABC Waters concept. Research studies are also carried out to develop design parameters to achieve optimum performance of the cleansing features.

The ABC Waters Programme is primarily funded via government funding and there is a need to justify and secure funding for each phase of the Programme. A whole of government approach is adopted from design to implementation and maintenance of the ABC Waters projects. This is to dovetail efforts from the various public agencies and stakeholders in delivering public services and to reap benefits beyond the domain of the implementing agency. Implementation of the ABC Waters Programme taps on a team of professionals with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, such as engineers, biologists, horticulturists, landscape architects, urban planners etc. Consultation with stakeholders is also an important process in the implementation of ABC Waters projects.

Yes

In efforts to encourage the adoption of the ABC Waters concept, PUB developed the ABC Waters Design Guidelines in 2009, to guide developers and professionals to plan, design and incorporate ABC Waters design features in their developments. The ABC Waters Certification scheme was launched in 2010 to encourage and recognise public/private developers who have embraced and incorporated the ABC Waters designs in their developments. The scheme also aims to ensure that the design features meet the minimum design standard. To date, a total of 67 public and private projects have achieved ABC Waters certification. To build up the expertise of industry professionals, the ABC Waters Professional Programme was launched in 2011, with support from the Institute of Engineering Singapore, Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects and Singapore Institute of Architects. 76 ABC Waters Professionals (ABCWP) were registered as at Jan 2018. By empowering the industry with the requisite knowledge and skills, these professionals will ensure that the programme’s vision will be sustained in the long-run. PUB conducts workshop and sharing session for overseas delegates from China, India, South East Asian countries, Australia, etc. PUB also organises the ABC Waters Seminar in conjunction with the Singapore International Water Week where it shares its experience on sustainable stormwater management.

With two thirds of Singapore becoming water catchments, joint ownership of the nation’s water resources is critical. Through the Programme, water will be seen not just as a vital resource but also an environmental asset that helps to improve the quality of Singapore’s living environment. When Singaporeans enjoy the communal spaces created by the Programme, they are motivated to keep our waterways and reservoirs clean knowing that these are the sources of our water supply. The use of environmentally friendly design features with natural cleansing properties help to improve water quality in our waterways and water bodies, enhance surrounding environment and create habitats for flora and fauna. In the implementation of ABC Waters projects, PUB engages the stakeholders at every stage (design/construction/maintenance) to ensure that the projects are built based on users’ needs, securing commitment and ownership of the project right from the start. The ABC Waters Professional Programme and ABC Waters Certification Scheme as described in 5a supports the sustainability of this Programme. Nationally, schools and universities have included the appropriate curricula to teach ABC Waters design concepts. Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Education to implement rain gardens in schools to serve not only as a cleansing feature for storm water, but also as a teaching model to enhance learning.

Like any system, maintenance is a necessary and important consideration, and sufficient thought should be given to long-term maintenance during the design stage. The facilities and features must be monitored, inspected and maintained regularly to sustain the various benefits. Routine inspections and maintenance programmes help to prolong the lifespan of these facilities and features. By detecting the problems early, the maintenance cost can be reduced and any major repair or high replacement costs can also be avoided. Poor or irregular maintenance will result in system failure, additional expenses and adverse environmental impacts such as mosquito breeding, accumulation of pollutants in downstream water bodies and flooding. PUB has a dedicated operations team that manages the maintenance of the design features. During design stage, the planning/design team together with the maintenance team will review and finalise the design to ensure ease of maintenance in the long term and sustained functionality of the features. Where possible, the maintenance regime takes a whole of government approach to take advantage of the effective use of combined resources for better public service delivery. The published ABC Waters design guidelines and engineering procedures also provide a guide to private developers and institutions etc on the key considerations and know-how on design, construction, post completion and maintenance considerations. In addition, our officers provide professional advice and consultation to organisations that require assistance. The pool of qualified individuals under the ABC Waters Professional Programme are our extended go to resource as well.

Yes

Two studies were conducted by Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) using the hedonic pricing and contingent valuation methods to estimate the non-market benefits of the programme, such as improved aesthetics and increasing biodiversity in the urban environment. The studies found strong public support and positive valuation of the intangible benefits by nearby residents and visitors. The findings corresponded with the residents’ survey at Waterway Ridges (an ABC Waters Certified Housing Project) conducted by Housing & Development Board (HDB), where majority of the residents were satisfied with the “Beautiful” and “Clean” elements of the ABC Waters design features. Regular visitorship survey conducted by PUB also observed significant increase in site users following the completion of ABC Waters projects at various sites. PUB is collaborating with National University of Singapore and University of Western Australia on a study aimed at understanding (i) how developers and residents view ABC Waters Certification, (ii) the extend of ground-up demand for ABC Waters concepts in development, and (iii) assess the economic costs and benefits of ABC Waters design features in property developments. The choice modelling method is adopted to estimate the value on each ABC Waters Design Feature.

The ABC Waters programme had converted drains and canals that were once inaccessible, into a recreational, educational and sustainable space for all. A visitorship survey done in 2014/2015 at 26 completed ABC Waters sites saw an average of 16.2 million visitors per year. At certain ABC Waters site, accessibility to the waterways, which initially were non-existence were created as a result of the Programme. 97% of visitors to the ABC Waters sites supported the ABC Waters programme. The residents’ survey at Waterway Ridges also found that 90% of residents were satisfied with the ABC Waters design features implemented within their estate. The hedonic pricing study on the project at Kallang River-Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park estimated that the benefits brought about by the project resulted in an increase in nearby properties’ value by 2.7% to 4.7%. The aggregated benefit was approximately S$133 million. Higher resale values reflected the willingness of home-owners to pay for the benefits of living near to an ABC Waters site. The contingent valuation study estimated an average willingness to pay of S$2.00 to S$2.50 per month per unique visitor to construct and maintain a specific ABC Waters site. Furthermore, some respondents were willing to support with non-monetary contributions such as volunteerism to maintain the landscape and security of the site.

As explained in Part (b) above, the indicators used were: - Visitorship - Economic Value - User Satisfaction

The objective of creating ABC Waters sites was to create additional communal spaces next to our waterways and water bodies and bring people closer to water so that through the enjoyment of such spaces, there is greater sense of ownership towards the water resource. PUB engages the community at the different stages of project implementation of each ABC Waters project to understand their needs and work with the stakeholders to plan for the use of the created communal spaces and encourage greater ownership of the site. PUB actively finds co-creation opportunities with 3P (People, Public, Private) partners. With this intent to build ABC Waters projects for the community, PUB sought inputs from the community through the following initiatives: - Consulting grassroots leaders and the community of the areas in which the ABC Waters project sites are located, during project design and construction stages. Their feedback is taken into consideration and incorporated in the design during project implementation. - Engaging grassroots, non-government organizations and schools to adopt the ABC Waters sites after completion. Some of the activities done by the adopters include using the ABC Waters site as an educational outdoor classroom, volunteering to do clean-ups at the site and conducting guided nature walks for the community. Other community events across various themes such as music, arts etc were also held at these new spaces. - Collaborating with schools to develop ABC Waters Learning Trail for students. These place-based trails encourage students to explore, discover and learn at ABC Waters sites. The learning trails educate students about Singapore's water management, the development of the ABC Waters sites, its unique design features, history and rich biodiversity. These learning trails aim to cultivate civic-mindedness in young students, encouraging them to appreciate our water resources through conserving water and keeping our waterways clean.

1) Enhance stakeholder engagement and Improve Industry Capability The process of engagement and gathering feedback enabled PUB’s partners to feel that their contribution matters. Through the Programme, PUB created opportunities for Singaporeans to be partners, collaborators and co-creators with the organisation, supporting their ground-up water initiatives to achieve better public outcomes for water sustainability. Continued efforts on building industry capability to encourage the incorporation of ABC Waters design features on a catchment wide basis so that these features can be sited at source to cleanse rainwater runoff to minimise deterioration of water quality downstream in the waterways and water bodies from increased urbanisation. 2) Adoption of Designs to Adapt to Local Context The projects demonstrate the optimisation of space in land scarce Singapore through its design for multi-functional use. PUB gained several learning points, improving design features along the way to better adapt to the local context. While coping with maintenance issues such as vandalism of lightings and timber railings for example, PUB has since chosen to adopt more robust designs. PUB will continue to carry out research to modify the design of the ABC Waters design features and develop more innovative features to overcome site constraints and further improve the quality of rainwater runoff.