
Action will be taken against contractors that cause interference with the drainage systems in and around their construction sites.- Google Patents US4375929A - Protective flood barrier PUB completed checks for 77 such construction sites. During the monsoon season, PUB will also step up its checks at other construction sites around the island. In 2020, PUB inspected 27 such construction sites.
FLOOD BARRIER FOR TENTS FREE
Throughout the year, PUB officers also conduct routine inspections at construction sites with major drainage works, at least twice a month, to ensure that proper earth control measures and drainage measures are carried out, and that the drains are free from obstruction. PUB also works closely with public agencies and Town Councils to step up the maintenance and cleansing of public drains and vertical drain gratings, so that stormwater can be conveyed away quickly in case of heavy rainfall. For example, PUB officers go door-to-door to issue flood advisories to residents and educate them on what they can do to protect themselves and their homes when a flash flood occurs. Them of the need to keep the drainage system clean and free-flowing. Now, modern flood protection barriers such as Floodgates and Dam Easy Flood Panels can be quickly deployed by residents and shop owners themselves, when there is the possibility of flooding”, he added. In the past, we used heavy and bulky one-time-use sandbags against floodwaters. “PUB is constantly looking out for new solutions and devices to better enable residents and businesses to respond to flash floods and minimise potential damage to their premises. With climate change, we must be prepared to deal with, and enhance community resilience to, flash flood occurrences, as it is not always possible to widen or deepen our drains to eliminate floods”. However, we are also seeing more frequent rainfall events that are not just bringing increased rainwater but also more intense storms. Flash floods, these days, are more localised and typically subside within 30 minutes. Mr Yeo Keng Soon, PUB's Director of Catchment & Waterways Department, said, “PUB has made significant progress in improving the drainage system over the past 50 years, which greatly reduced the size of flood-prone areas in Singapore, from 3,200 hectares in the 1970s to 28 hectares today. This was the second highest total rainfall recorded in a day for the first half of November 2020. According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, the highest daily total rainfall recorded that day was 100.2 mm at Tanjong Katong.

The most recent flash flood event, in 2020, occurred on 7 November, when heavy rain overwhelmed the roadside drains along Aljunied Road, causing runoff to accumulate on the road for about 20 minutes. The list of flood-prone areas in Singapore can be found at In 2020, there were seven days when flash floods occurred at various locations in Singapore due to very intense rainfall within a short period of time. Flash floods may occur if the rainstorms temporarily overwhelm the capacity of the drainage system, especially in low-lying areas that are more prone to flooding. The wet phase of the Northeast Monsoon in the region typically brings about heavy rainstorms more frequently. In September 2020, PUB purchased 20 pieces of Floodgates from UK-based Floodgate Limited, for performance testing and validation, with 15 pieces currently on loan to residents at Upper Paya Lebar Road for the monsoon season.

Floodgates can be used for wider openings such as the entrances of shopfronts, as units can be linked together to create longer sections. Designed to hold back floodwaters as high as 680 mm, each Floodgate can be deployed by one person within minutes and packed away easily when not in use. They are available in different sizes to suit apertures with widths ranging from 770 mm to 1520 mm, and weigh between 13 kg to 21 kg, depending on their size. The side panels of the Floodgate barriers can be extended with a wrench to achieve a watertight seal against the doorway.

Floodgate is made from high-strength steel frames, wrapped in a waterproof rubber sleeve.

PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, is adding a new flood protection device, Floodgate, to its suite of flood barriers that can be deployed quickly to protect homes and buildings in the event of flash floods, caused by heavy rainstorms during the monsoon season.
