Environmental Protection

Building a sustainable land transport system is crucial amid the rapid development of our small island nation. To limit the environment impact of our projects and promote sustainability efforts, LTA has implemented a holistic environmental management system that is used throughout the planning, design and construction stages of projects.

For every project that has been identified to have significant environmental impact, an Environmental Study will be carried out at the design stage to assess the significance of potential impacts of construction work and recommend mitigation measures. Prior to construction, contractors must develop an environmental management plan that incorporates and implements recommendations from the Environmental Study report.

In addition to implementing a holistic environmental management system, LTA is helping to advance Singapore’s goal in achieving sustainable development as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. This is done by mandating that all projects adopt environmentally sustainable practices at construction sites.

To highlight best management practices, and guide our staff and contractors on how to mitigate the environmental impact of work activities as well as improve resource conservation, LTA has produced a series of environmental guidebooks:

Earth Control Measures

Earth Control Measures

During construction, earthworks and digging can lead to soil disturbance and erosion. LTA implements earth control measures (ECM) at our construction sites to prevent silt from polluting waterways and minimise soil loss. Before starting construction, contractors are required to obtain a Clearance Certificate from PUB to commence works by submitting the ECM Plan, designed and endorsed by the Qualified Erosion Control Professional (QECP). They will also need to implement the ECM on site according to the ECM plan, which includes erosion control and sediment control.

Since 1 April 2015, PUB also requires a full-time staff with Earth Control Measures Officer (ECMO) qualifications to be on site for construction sites with area of more than 0.5 hectares.

The primary focus of ECM is erosion control, and has these minimum requirements:

Retain as much existing vegetation as possible during site clearance to minimise the formation of bare surfaces.
Restore ground cover over disturbed areas that have become bare.
Carry out trench excavation work in sequence with the progress of permanent works.

Pave bare surfaces and all construction access with concreting, milled waste or other suitable materials.

Protect earth stockpiles with erosion control blankets or canvas sheets.

Protect bare slopes with close turfing, concrete grouting, erosion control blankets or canvas sheets.

Sediment control to contain, store and treat eroded soil from entering waterways should meet these minimum requirements:

Construct concrete-lined cut-off drains along the perimeter of the construction sites.

Erect silt fences in front and along the perimeter cut-off drain along the perimeter of the boundary of the site.

Install a treatment system equipped with a continuous turbidity and total suspended solids monitoring device and close circuit television before discharging into public drains.

Install turbidity curtains for construction works near water bodies. The design, fabrication, and installation of the primary and secondary turbidity curtains must be conducted to ensure that the turbidity of water shall not exceed pre-existing levels or 50mg/l.

Noise Pollution Control

Noise Pollution Control

In land-scarce Singapore, developments often have to be carried out near residential areas, hospitals and schools (known as Noise Sensitive Receivers or NSRs). To ensure that noise from our construction works has minimal disturbance to the residents and businesses, noise levels are continuously monitored and kept within permissible levels determined by the National Environment Agency.

Contractors must also comply with noise pollution control requirements such as:

Carrying out a baseline noise survey (for 24-hours a day for one week) prior to the commencement of works to establish background noise levels.
Submitting a Noise Management Plan before any construction work starts. The plans must include the baseline noise record, indicate the NSRs, and propose mitigation measures and public relation strategies to handle noise matters.
Implementing all practicable measures while continuously monitoring the noise levels closely throughout the construction duration.
Focusing on controlling the noise at source and supplementing this with controls at pathways.

Some practicable noise impact control measures include:

Using noise-reduced plants and machinery

Enclosing noisy plants in acoustic sheds

Barricading noisy activities with portable noise barriers/panels

Erecting noise barriers before commencement of works

Establishing good rapport with the community

Vector Control Measure

Vector Control Measure

Vectors are organisms that transmit diseases, and the five main vectors in Singapore are: mosquitoes, flies, rodents, cockroaches and fleas. The focus of vector control is primarily on mosquitoes as they transmit the majority of vector-borne diseases in Singapore.

Contractors are required to submit a plan for vector control ahead of construction works which include but are not limited to:

An in-house vector control team to carry out the vector surveillance and control work.
External pest control operators to supplement the in-house control.
Source reduction and effective drainage as the main forms of mosquito control.
Search and destroy activities of any potential breeding grounds, especially after every rainfall, using the “zoning method”. This method divides the site into a maximum of three zones and aims for a more effective vector surveillance and control by focusing on one zone per day. It ensures that the site is checked at least twice a week to break the mosquito breeding cycle in the event of warmer-than-usual weathers.
Applying larvicide or Anti-Mosquito (AM) oil to supplement source reduction.
Mass carpet combing involving all site personnel to be carried out for the entire site at least once a week.
Closely monitoring dengue / zika case status of the neighbourhood and nationwide.
Carrying out thermal fogging only when the adult population is high and / or when there is disease transmission (i.e. the area is located in an active dengue cluster).
Exercising the Enhanced LTA Dengue Contingency Plan for control measures against active dengue clusters and dengue symptoms.
Storing food in rodent-proof storage containers/cabinets with at least 60cm clearance above ground.
Removing food waste daily and clean the bins regularly.