Yishun Canal turned green due to discharge of water contaminated by ink on 2 occasions: NEA

SINGAPORE – The green water that had pooled in a canal in Yishun Close was caused by the discharge of wash water contaminated with water-based ink, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Aug 27.

In response to media queries, NEA said the colour of the water has returned to normal and it continues to monitor the situation.

It added that the water in

the canal was discoloured

on Aug 16 and Aug 23.

NEA said it is investigating the incident and assessing the appropriate enforcement action to take.

Those found guilty of discharging pollutants into watercourses without written permission can be fined up to $20,000 on first conviction. 

Nee Soon GRC MP Jackson Lam said on Aug 26 he checked with NEA after some residents noticed the discolouration.

Photos he shared in a Facebook post that evening show the discoloured water in a stretch of the canal.

In March, the water in a Tengah canal

turned brown

due to accumulated silt layers churned up by rain during a monsoon surge.

In 2024, a canal near Newton 

turned radiant baby blue

. National water agency PUB said no abnormalities were detected in the water quality downstream of the Bukit Timah Canal or in Marina Reservoir.

Nee Soon GRCYishunNational Environment Agency