The Marina Barrage was meant to help alleviate floods.
Yet it may have been the cause of floods.
In theory, the barrage's crest gate can be opened to lower the level of water in the canal system when the water level rises.
there will take time for the 70-tonne's crest gates to open between opening the barrage at Marina Bay and for the water to flow out from Bukit Timah or Stamford Canals.
Given our climate where we get extremely heavy downpours in
60 – 120 minutes,
The flooding at Orchard/Paterson junction is unusual.
Prior to construction of ION, the piece of empty land was a big sponge allowing rainwater to flow into the ground.
However, heavy rain falling on the entire complex now cannot flow into the ground directly would naturally pond at the lowest point ie. the Orchard/Paterson junction.
our canals may not be able to cope with the sudden rush of rain water while the marina barrage's crest gates are still opening to lower the level of water.
If water is to be retained in marina reservoir, then water will flow back into the canal system feeding into the Singapore River ie. Bukit Timah etc. rendering these canals to be much less effective as they are already half full before any heavy downpour.
Furthermore the water table will rise which means that our soil will be less porous to soak in the rainwater during a heavy downpour.
If our precious water reserves were to be released at the barrage before any downpour, it would probably take 10 hours before water level at Bukit Timah canal to be lowered. And what if the downpour was not that heavy?
Why release precious water reserves so that there will not be floods?
so smile as tomorrow will get worse.
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