Chemical smell & milky water spotted in canal at East Coast Park, went away overnight

A resident of Bayshore was concerned when she saw the water of a canal at East Coast Park looking milky white.

The woman, surnamed Kong (transliterated), told 8world she observed it around 6:30pm on Dec. 1.

Pollution suspected

Based on a video the woman shared with 8world, the milky white substance appeared to flow only through the middle of the canal.

As the woman also smelled a pungent chemical odour, she suspected that the canal water might have been polluted.

She added, however, that she did not know whether the odour and the milky white water were connected.

"I have lived here for three years, and this is the first time I have seen [something like this]," she told 8world.

The next morning, on Dec. 2, the water colour looked normal again, and the odour was gone.

NEA's response

In response to Mothership's queries, the National Environment Agency (NEA) shared that the canal in question is located between Angsana Green and Xtreme SkatePark at East Coast Park.

It said it observed no irregularities in the waters on Dec. 3 and will continue to monitor the situation.

Under Section 15(1) of the Environmental Protection and Management Act, it is an offence to discharge pollutants into watercourses without written permission.

Those who commit the offence may be fined up to $20,000 upon first conviction.

Members of the public who spot signs of pollution are encouraged to report them immediately by calling NEA's hotline at 6225 5632.

Top images via 8world and Google Maps