SINGAPORE - Beachgoers can once again swim safely at Pasir Ris beach (picture) after the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday declared the water quality there as "good", more than three years after it advised the public not to swim, wakeboard or waterski in the water due to pollution.

The water quality at Pasir Ris beach, which reopened yesterday, has improved from "fair" to "good" based on the World Health Organization's water quality guidelines for recreational use, said the NEA in a statement.

Only beaches that are graded "good" or "very good" are suitable for whole body water contact activities such as swimming, waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Detailing the improvement shown last year, the NEA said only 3 per cent of the collected water samples from Pasir Ris beach showed enterococcus bacteria counts of greater than 200 per 100ml, compared to 7 per cent in 2010. Enterococcus bacteria is the bacteria found in human faeces.

The previous "fair" grading was attributed to various possible sources, said the NEA. This includes minor leakage from older sewers, discharge from moored vessels and from small-scale sewage treatment plants that serve the more remote areas in Pasir Ris.

Weak water currents in the concave part of the beach were not effective in diluting and dispersing the discharges, said the agency.

To help improve the beach's water quality, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) extended the sewer network and diverted used water from the 39 sewage treatment plants in the Halus/Tampines, Changi and Selarang areas.

The PUB also, in March last year, completed the rehabilitation of 23km of ageing sewers in the area, under its sewer rehabilitation programme.

Other than Pasir Ris beach, there are five other beaches suitable for whole body water contact activities. They are: Sentosa Island, Seletar Island, Sembawang Park, Changi Beach and East Coast Park.

The NEA said it will continue to monitor closely the water quality of the six beaches.

Channel NewsAsia