Pasir Ris Beach Declared Safe To Swim In, Reopens Today

SINGAPORE – More than three years after it first advised the public not to swim at Pasir Ris beach, the National Environment Agency (NEA) today announced it is now safe to swim at the beach, which reopens today.

The water quality at Pasir Ris beach has improved from “fair” to “good” according to the World Health Organisation’s water quality guidelines for recreational use, said NEA. Only beaches that are graded “good” or “very good” are suitable for whole body water contact activities such as swimming, water-skiing and wakeboarding.

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

The previous “fair” grading for the water quality at Pasir Ris beach was attributed to various possible sources, including minor leakage from older sewers, discharge from moored vessels, animals, as well as discharge from small-scale sewage treatment plants that serve the more remote areas in Pasir Ris.

To help improve water quality at the beach, PUB extended the sewer network and diverted used water from the 39 sewage treatment plants in the Halus/Tampines, Changi and Selarang areas.

PUB also, in March 2011, completed the rehabilitation of 23km of ageing sewers in the area under its sewer rehabilitation programme.

The five beaches presently suitable for whole body water contact activities are: Sentosa Island, Seletar Island, Sembawang Park, Changi Beach, East Coast Park and Pasir Ris Beach.

The next annual review of water quality at Singapore’s beaches will be in 2013. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

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