NEA enforces strict regulations in line with international standards to limit emissions, and implements various initiatives to monitor, reduce and prevent environmental pollution. NEA plays a pivotal role to sustain clean air, good water quality and quieter surroundings for all Singaporeans.
Keeping a Tight Lid on Air Pollution
To ensure that the incineration processes at our waste-to-energy (WTE) plants and crematoria do not pollute the environment, the facilities must comply with Singapore’s Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations
1 to manage their air emissions.
The design features incorporated into Tuas Incineration Plant and Tuas South Incineration Plant ensure that flue gas emissions, which are cleaned prior to release through the chimney, meet regulatory limits. Efficient process control systems are also set up at the plants to regulate the rate of air distribution and refuse feed. This ensures proper combustion in the furnace, leading to greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
In addition, NEA installed a telemetric monitoring system (linked to the regulatory unit) that continuously monitors air emissions from these WTE plants. NEA also monitors air emissions from the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium, to ensure that emissions are kept within limits
2.
Air emissions recorded at the three facilities in 2020 were below regulation limits, with no smoky emissions detected at the facilities’ chimney stacks and no air pollution incidents. In addition, NEA has put in place an effective environmental management system that consists of components tested to always meet the processes and practices that boost NEA’s operational efficiency and minimise environmental impact. Through these measures, we review our performance periodically and consistently control our operations to achieve our sustainability goals.
Accessing Air Quality Information Close to Home
NEA’s network of ambient air monitoring stations continuously monitors air quality across Singapore to offer up-to-date air quality information on our websites and mobile app. With the aim to offer information pertinent to specific locations, we launched a two-year pilot in 2020 using low-cost sensors to enhance the spatial resolution of air quality monitoring within localised areas. By combining the data from networks of these sensors with an air dispersion model, we are able to generate high spatial resolution air quality information to support the analysis of air pollutants within localised areas.
Monitoring Water Discharge
The quality of effluent discharge from NEA's two WTE plants are in compliance with the allowable limits under PUB’s Sewerage and Drainage Act (Chapter 294, Sections 72 and 74) and Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations.
Encouraging Safe Play at the Beach
With the introduction of the Beach Short-term Water Quality Information (BSWI) system in October 2020, the public can get up-to-date information on the water quality of the seven popular recreational beaches. Based on advisories accompanying the BSWI, beachgoers can also take necessary precautionary measures to safeguard their health when participating in recreational water activities at these popular beaches. The water quality bandings, based on the enterococcus bacteria levels, are
published online on a weekly basis. This information complements the annual grading of the beaches, which is also published on
NEA’s website.
Encouraging Innovation for Quieter Construction
NEA administered a Quieter Construction Innovation Fund (QCIF) from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021 to encourage the wider adoption of innovative engineering solutions that can achieve higher noise reduction and ensure a quieter living environment. QCIF replaced the Quieter Construction Fund, providing a larger funding quantum for the purchase or lease of quieter piling and demolition equipment that can achieve a higher noise-reduction performance standard of 10 dBA or more. As of 31 March 2021, NEA had disbursed $1.5 million in grants to 59 QCIF applications from the contractors.
Promoting Safe Use of Ultraviolet-C Devices
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the ubiquitous use of ultraviolet-C (UVC) disinfection devices. However, unsafe UVC devices can pose a risk if UVC radiation sources are not properly contained and there are no safety engineering features in place to prevent the user from being exposed to the UVC radiation. NEA took steps to educate members of public on the risks of such devices in 2020. We published an advisory on the use of UVC devices in the home, and safety guidelines for the use of UVC devices in commercial or industrial settings. We have been working with major retailers – both physical stores and online shopping platforms – to remove unsafe UVC devices from the market.
Going Forward |
As the steward of a safe, healthy and conducive living environment, NEA’s short-term focus is to implement initiatives to monitor, prevent and mitigate pollution of air, land and water to sustain a quality living environment. Our medium-term priority is to strengthen our monitoring network for Volatile Organic Compounds and air emissions, as well as capabilities to safeguard against the harmful effects of radiation. NEA’s vision is a safe and healthy Singapore that is vital for a good quality of life for our residents. |
Shifting the Gears Towards Cleaner Vehicles
The Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) implemented in 2018 has been effective in encouraging the purchase of cleaner car and taxi models. To provide a stronger nudge towards the adoption of cleaner vehicles, the VES was enhanced with increased rebates for cleaner vehicle models from 1 January 2021 and higher surcharges for more pollutive models from 1 July 2021. The enhanced scheme will last till 31 December 2022. Starting from 1 April 2023, NEA will also exclusively adopt the latest United Nations noise standards for vehicles and aftermarket exhaust systems, which include a test procedure that better reflects actual driving conditions and better accounts for non-exhaust noise.
Tackling Marine Litter and Microplastics in Our Waterways
As part of the national effort to tackle the issue of marine pollution, NEA commissioned a study to look into marine litter and microplastics in our inland watercourses and marine waters in May 2021. The two-year study aims to establish Singapore’s baseline levels of marine litter and microplastics and identify their pathways to understand the source contribution from local activities and other transboundary influences. The study would involve the collection of samples from our reservoirs, inland waterways, coastal waters and beaches, hydro modelling of marine litter flow and development of the methodology for reporting and monitoring marine litter and microplastics.