Construction firm fined S$49,000 for damaging water main that caused Marine Parade flooding in Oct. 2024

The damage caused significant disruption as it flooded the Marine Drive public housing estate.

March 14, 2025, 11:28 AM

A construction firm was fined S$49,000 on Mar. 11 for damaging a potable water main that caused the flooding in Marine Parade on October 2024.

According to the national water agency PUB, Pal-Link Construction Pte Ltd also carried out works within a water pipe corridor without prior approval on Oct. 4, 2024.

The damage caused significant disruption as the Marine Drive public housing estate was flooded.

In addition, it resulted in substantial water loss of approximately 1.1 million gallons, the equivalent of two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Investigations

From PUB's investigations, the contractor responsible for the construction of lift shafts for an existing pedestrian overhead bridge along Still Road South did not seek prior approval to install temporary underground earth retaining structures near water mains, a requirement under the Public Utilities Act.

During the works, the contractor's excavator damaged the underground 300mm diameter water main.

Water gushed out from the damaged water main, flooding the four lanes of Still Road South and Marine Drive public housing estate.

A lift at Block 67 Marine Drive broke down due to water entering the lift shaft.

In addition, a convenience store in the same block was affected for a few hours due to the flooding.

The flooding caused a build-up of traffic over 30 minutes and the leftmost lane of Still Road South had to be closed for more than a day to facilitate urgent repair works.

Due to the complex works required, the reinstatement of the damaged pipe and full reopening of Still Road South was only completed the following day.

"PUB takes a serious view of such incidents. Any damage to our water mains will incur significant amounts of water wastage, result in economic losses and cause disruption and inconvenience to the public," PUB said.

Under the Public Utilities Act, damaging a water main or connecting pipe with a diameter of 300mm or more can result in a fine of up to S$200,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.

Contractors who carry out works in the vicinity of water mains without an approved plan could be fined up to S$10,000.