Over the past three years, PUB has taken a three-pronged approach to tackle silt discharges, viz. working with industry, enforcement and technology. Through working with the industry and professional bodies, this approach has resulted in silt control technology and expertise being make available in Singapore, and a significant increase in construction sites adopting comprehensive erosion control measures.

Some initiatives that were introduced to develop technical competency in earth control measures (ECM) included revision to our Code of Practice in Aug 2006, and introduction of the industry-led ECM guidebook and the IES-Qualified Erosion Control Professional (QECP) Scheme. Since end 2006, the contractors are required to engage a QECP to undertake the design and implementation of ECMs for construction sites.

To check compliance at construction stage, we have intensified our enforcement efforts since 2006.

To raise the awareness and provide continual training for the industry, seminars, workshops and dialogue sessions were held regularly in collaboration with the industry and professional bodies, and government agencies over the past few years.

PUB partners, like the government agencies who are major developers, such as the Land Transport Authority, Housing & Development Board, National Parks Board, Jurong Town Corporation, Urban Redevelopment Authority and Singapore Land Authority work closely with their contractors in their silt control efforts. Some of these efforts are highlighted below:

1. Form an in-house ECM committee to work with PUB on matters related to earth control; 
2. Engage a Qualified Person (QECP) to oversee all matters on earth control, when involving many contractors;
3. Develop ECM-related specifications and costing requirements for project tenders;
4. Audit earth control measures at development sites or require regular reports from contractors on earth control;
5. Require on-line instruments and CCTVs to monitor the quality of water discharged into external drainage system. 

PUB adopts a co-ownership with the stakeholders approach to build Earth Control Measures (ECM) competency within the Construction Industry and to move the industry towards self-regulation. As illustrated below, PUB works with our technical, industry, and agency partners to provide the tools for contractors to use and implement ECM effectively throughout various stage of the construction works from planning, setup to operation of the construction activities.

(Click on image for an enlarged view)
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Jointly with Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES), the technical  partner, the Qualified Erosion Control Professional (QECP) and Earth Control Measures Officer (ECMOs) were established to provide the industry with trained ECM persons for the construction sites.

To raise the awareness and provide continual training for the industry, seminars, workshops and dialogue sessions were held regularly in collaboration with the industry and professional bodies, and government agencies.

The key milestone of tools and technology introduced by the ECM programme over the years are illustrated below:

(Click on image for an enlarged view)
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