Optimizing potential water supply from local catchment areas through modification of hydrological flow processes

• Main Author: Yueh, Yuen Yik
• Other Authors: Shuy Eng Ban
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Water resources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71925
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Local catchment areas cover two-thirds of the land area of Singapore and they play a major role in contributing to the water supply in Singapore. This project aims to investigate the effects of hydrological flow processes on the volume of rainwater collected and retained in the local catchment areas. Based on current studies, it was suggested that the evapotranspiration, initial losses from precipitation, surface runoff and baseflow would significantly affect the volume of rainwater collected. A computer model was created to simulate and determine the optimum conditions to maximize the collection and retention of rainwater in the Marina Catchment. Based on results attained from the model, it was deduced that surface runoff and baseflow contributed significantly (approximately 26 000 m3 or 10.4% more water) to the increase in volume of rainwater that can be collected in the Marina catchment. Therefore, to increase the volume of water that can be collected from the Marina Catchment, two recommendations focusing on reducing surface runoff and increasing baseflow were proposed. The first involves replacing current road surfacing materials such as asphalt with interlocking concrete pavers which are more permeable, enabling more infiltration and less runoff to occur. The second proposal recommends the modification of the current design of drainages and storm water drains to not only drain excess rainwater away, but to provide an alternative pathway for the infiltration of rainwater. Although some parts of the Marina Catchment are suitable for the recommendations, further traffic and geological studies needs to be conducted for better understanding of the catchment area before the implementation of the recommendations.