Although some sporting groups scrambled to find alternative locations, some people didn't really care.
There's still lots of marine life at Pasir Ris!
Like this enormous sea star, also octopuses, sea anemones and more, which Kok Sheng saw and shared during a visit on 19 Aug.Not to mention the recent excitement about a crocodile at Pasir Ris which was considered an indication that Singapore's rivers are healthier now. Alas, the crocodile eventually got caught.
Anyway, here's the full text of the parliamentary discussion of the issue.
POLLUTION IN THE WATERS OFF PASIR RIS BEACH
(Measures to improve water quality)
From Hansard: Singapore Parliament Reports on the Singapore Parliament website
42. Mr Charles Chong (Pasir Ris Punggol GRC MP) asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources if he will provide an update on the investigation into the source of pollution in the waters off Pasir Ris Beach and the measures taken to improve water quality in that area.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim:
The National Environment Agency (NEA) introduced new guidelines for recreational water quality at the end of July. Based on these guidelines, Pasir Ris beach is assessed to be unsuitable for primary contact activities, such as swimming, water-skiing and wakeboarding. Signs have since been erected along Pasir Ris beach to advise beach goers against swimming in the water.
The water quality at Pasir Ris has not deteriorated. Rather, we have adopted a higher standard based on the latest guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which introduced a new microbial indicator, enterococcus. The NEA's new guidelines require at least 95% of the water samples collected to have enteroccocus levels of below 200 counts per 100 millilitres. Pasir Ris beach does not meet this guideline, and the causes could be storm-water runoff, riverine activities, and indiscriminate discharges from industries and construction sites. We also cannot rule out non-domestic activities in the open seas.
Singapore already has in place a comprehensive regulatory and enforcement regime to ensure that our waterways are kept clean. For instance, NEA conducts regular surveillance of industries and construction sites to control against illegal discharge of sewage into open drains. The premises along Pasir Ris beach are also connected to sewers, ensuring that sewage is channeled to our used water network and properly treated.
The water at Pasir Ris beach is not able to meet the new guidelines despite existing pollution control measures. NEA is undertaking a detailed consultancy study to better understand the specific sources of pollution affecting our beaches, and determine if there are other measures which are feasible to adopt. The study is expected to be completed early next year.
NEA will regularly collect and analyse water samples at the popular recreational beaches. The grading of beaches will be reviewed annually, with advisories updated as necessary, on their suitability for primary contact activities.
