Flood-proofing can boost water security

In his commentary, “Treading between the painful and the popular” (March 22), Mr Terence Poon suggests that there must be a trade-off between flood-proofing and water security.

He suggests flood-proofing was a decision to win votes but might hurt Singapore in the long term, while proper water management would hurt in the short term but help in the long run.

To my mind, both are equally important, need to be addressed together and would benefit Singapore in the long term.

He mentioned that flood-proofing will cost S$750 million, whereas the damage from the flash floods in June-July 2010 amounted to only S$23 million. However, the S$750 million is to ensure that we do not have flash floods for years to come.

And we cannot assume that flood damage would, at most, be S$23 million every year. Global warming is causing climate change, the risk of floods will get higher and the damage will get bigger. Flood-proofing is also likely to be costlier in the future.

Mr Poon said that technology such as membranes for reverse osmosis, used in NEWater processes, have done more to wean Singapore off imported water, whereas drainage work only channels rainwater to reservoirs and boosts water supply.

However, there will be more demand for water as the population and economic activities increase. Just recycling the current waste water would be insufficient. The flood-proofing work now will make more water available for treatment to meet the extra demand.

I agree, though, that we must continue spending on water treatment research and development.