74 contractors penalised for discharging silty water in 2017: PUB
Yahoo News Singapore file photo
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has penalised 74 civil and building contractors in 2017 for discharging silty water into the waterways, and for not providing adequate measures to prevent it from happening at their sites.
According to the PUB, silty water is generated when rainwater run-off mixes with exposed earth materials and soil at construction sites. Contractors are required to implement measures at their sites to remove silt before the water is discharged into public drains.
“Silt, if not removed from construction discharge, will build up in the waterways. This will affect waterway’s effectiveness in channeling stormwater flow and also the environmental aesthetics,” said a PUB spokesman.
For example, Huationg Contractor was fined $13,500 for four Earth Control Measures (ECM) offences, while Samwoh Corporation had to pay fork out $10,500 for three violations.
“Two-thirds of Singapore is water catchment. Silty discharge into the drains and canals will result in accumulation of sediments and affect drainage capacity,” said Choy Wai Kwong, PUB’s chief engineer for drainage operations, adding that everyone has a part to play in keeping the waterways clean.
