The cleaning of Singapore River and the Kallang Basin: approaches, methods, investments and benefits

The Singapore River and the Kallang Basin which drains five other rivers, form an important catchment covering one-fifth of Singapore’s total land area. These waterways served important functions in the economic development of the country. The intense and varied uses however contributed to the gross pollution of the rivers which was not in keeping with the clean and modern image adopted for the nation’s continued progress. In 1977, a 10-yr clean-up programme of these significant courses was initiated. Costing S$200 million (US$150 million) and involving many government ministries and agencies, the action plan coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment was aimed at cleaning up these rivers permanently. The success of the programme depended on the adoption of an integrated management approach in a sectoral management setting that is still prevalent today.