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E-Government

Singapore improves flood alert system

By Xinghui Guo | 8 June 2011

After the flash floods on 5 June 2011, Singapore’s national water agency, Public Utilities Board (PUB), has made improvements to its flood alert system which failed to inform two commercial subscribers—Tanglin Mall and St Regis hotel—of the impending flood.

On 7 June 2011, PUB introduced measures to improve the SMS alert system which failed when water levels rose above what the sensor marks were designed to detect. The agency explained that the flood sensors were designed to monitor water levels every two minutes when it rains, and when the 75 per cent and 90 per cent marks were reached, SMS alerts will be sent out to subscribers. However Sunday’s heavy rainfall caused the water level to hit 100 per cent—a level that the system wasn’t designed to trigger SMS alerts for.

PUB has since tweaked the system such that SMS alerts will be sent out even if water levels reach above the 100 per cent mark. Also, while the previous SMS alert subscription was only available to building owners in areas prone to flooding, from July 2011, the new system will allow public subscription too.

The number of water sensors in place will also be increased from 93 to 150 by the end of this year, said PUB.

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