DROWNING INCIDENTS AT RESERVOIRS

DROWNING INCIDENTS AT RESERVOIRS: 12.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

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how many people had drowned in reservoirs over the last ten years and how many of these cases occurred at Lower Seletar.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): There were 21 drowning incidents in reservoirs in the last 10 years. Five of the incidents occurred at Lower Seletar Reservoir, and the rest were spread over the other seven reservoirs.

Of the 21 incidents, one of them occurred during a water activity operated by an approved water activities centre. This was the incident at Lower Seletar Reservoir on 27th May 2007, where a man drowned after his kayak capsized. The other 20 cases did not arise from such water activities. Most of these cases were open verdicts, while a few were suicide cases.

For the incident at Lower Seletar Reservoir on 27th May this year, it was found that the man and his wife had strayed out of the designated kayaking area, despite being briefed by the staff of the water activities centre on the safety procedures and the limits of the designated kayaking area.

I would like to assure the House that there is an adequate safety system and procedures in place for water activities carried out under PUB's auspices. Water activities such as canoeing or kayaking are allowed only at authorised water activities centres under the supervision of the centre staff. These are run by experienced operators, such as the People's Association

or the National Sports Associations, who have a responsibility to manage and oversee the activities to ensure that they are carried out properly and in accordance with safety procedures. The safety procedures

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include safety briefings, checks that the boaters have put on their life vests properly, and inspections to ensure that the canoes and kayaks are in good condition before the commencement of activities.

Although safety measures have been put in place, the public needs to adhere to them, and also exercise individual responsibility and good sense when having fun in the water. With the formation of the National Water Safety Council, PUB is working closely with the Council to promote and enhance water safety in our reservoirs and waterways. PUB is also working with the Council and the Ministry of Education to weave in water safety messages in their talks to schools as part of PUB's ongoing public education programme.

Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Two supplementary questions. The first question: are there any additional safety measures implemented before reopening the kayak centre at Lower Seletar? There is a lot of undergrowth in the water, according to the residents as well as SCDF rescue team. Does this undergrowth pose any danger to the users of the kayak centre? If yes, what else should be done?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: First of all, I would like to reiterate, as I have noted in my earlier reply, that the People's Association, who is the operator of the water activities centre at Lower Seletar Reservoir where the incident occurred, has put in place an adequate safety system and procedures for the conduct of water activities there. Nonetheless, to further strengthen the safety system, PUB and PA have reviewed and enhanced the existing procedures regarding kayakers straying outside the designated kayaking area. The demarcation of kayaking area for walk-in public has been made more prominent at all reservoirs available for these water activities. PA and the National Sports Associations will also be

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looking into providing walk-in public with devices that they can use to send out distress signals should they encounter difficulty in the water.

As regards the second question about the aquatic plants that could possibly have contributed to the drowning incident at Lower Seletar Reservoir, I would like to say that the aquatic plants did not contribute to this incident. The aquatic plants which are actually part of the natural eco-system in our reservoirs are generally very brittle and they do not pose any danger to kayakers with life jackets on. PUB has also engaged contractors to trim them on a regular basis, in fact, on a daily basis.

Ms Ellen Lee: Sir, I would like to ask whether or not, currently, there are any sanctions that would be taken against kayakers who breach safety conditions as well as the operators of these activities centres if the safety conditions have been breached. Because I think it would be necessary to reinforce the point that safety is paramount in these centres and that both the users as well as the providers have to abide by a certain set of conditions.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: I would like to thank the Member for bringing this issue up. Currently, when the public actually goes in to rent a kayak at the water activities centre, there is a certain set of safety measures and procedures which are put in place. First of all, the operator would have to brief the kayakers on the dos and don'ts when in the water, and of course they have to help them put on the life vests, they have to inform them that they have to make sure that the life vests have to be on at all times as well as they have to stay within the designated area which is clearly demarcated. In addition, the operators on shore also have binoculars, whistles, air horns, and so on,

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to alert kayakers if they see them straying out of the designated kayaking area. But I think, ultimately, the responsibility to ensure the safety of the users really lies upon themselves. They have to exercise individual responsibility. They have to adhere to the rules and make sure that, when in the water, they do not take any action which will endanger their lives.

Mr Speaker: Ms Lee Bee Wah, final question.

Er Lee Bee Wah: Mr Speaker, Sir, in fact, a lot of my residents told me that they are avoiding Lower Seletar at the moment, because they said that once they fall into the water, though they have the life jackets, sometimes, accidents still happen, they will be entangled in the undergrowth. Therefore, it is very difficult for them to survive. So it looks like this is the main concern among the residents there.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Our PUB, as well as PA staff, after the incident, has actually undertaken an internal investigation. They are satisfied that there are proper safety procedures and measures already put in place. I think if you have your life vest on and are securely fastened at all times, I do not see how you would be able to sink into the water.

Regarding the undergrowth, as I have said earlier, we have checked. We do have a system in place where the aquatic plants are actually pruned on a daily basis so that they only come up to about 1 1/2 metres below the surface of the reservoir and they would not pose any danger to the kayakers.