Underground Service Reservoir Continues to Provide Drinking Water to Central Areas
Beneath Fort Canning, about nine metres underground, lies the Fort Canning Service Reservoir, a 92-year-old facility that continues to supply clean, treated drinking water to key areas in Singapore, including the Central Business District (CBD) and Marina Bay. The reservoir, built in 1929 by the British, was designed to meet the rising demand for water in the city centre. It has been operational for over nine decades, with a brief interruption during the war years when it was damaged.
The Fort Canning Service Reservoir is unique not only because of its age but also due to its architectural design. Its roof, resembling a giant honeycomb, is made up of 264 hexagonal domes spread across a seven-acre underground area. The structure, made of unreinforced concrete, was constructed to withstand the high stress of water pressure while remaining economically viable.
Unlike catchment reservoirs that collect rainwater, such as MacRitchie and Jurong Lake, service reservoirs like Fort Canning receive treated water from the waterworks. The reservoir provides storage for potable water, expanding Singapore’s capacity to supply water to the city for up to two days—an important improvement from the previous half-day supply before its construction.
The Fort Canning Service Reservoir, along with others like the Pearl’s Hill Service Reservoir, continues to play a crucial role in Singapore’s water management system, serving areas such as Bugis, Lavender, and Boon Keng. The reservoir is typically submerged and is emptied once every decade for inspection, with the latest inspection confirming it remains in excellent condition.
During a visit on December 15, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and his wife Ho Ching were given a behind-the-scenes tour. In a Facebook post, PM Lee reminded Singaporeans of the importance of using water responsibly, especially as climate change may affect rainfall reliability in the future.
