Walk by the Waters: Marina Barrage, Singapore

Marina Reservoir

Before 2008, the water at Marina Bay was still seawater. Marina Reservoir was formed when Marina Barrage, a dam across the mouth of the Marina Channel, was completed in October 2008. It took 2 years for the salt water to be gradually and naturally replaced by rain freshwater. Marina Reservoir started operations in November 2010.

Marina Reservoir is Singapore’s 15^th reservoir and the first to be right in the city centre. These 15 reservoirs source rainwater from around half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land area. The generally wet tropical weather has made Singapore one of the very few countries to harvest urban stormwater on a large scale to complement its water supply.

Marina Reservoir sources rainwater via many drains, canals, and stormwater collection ponds and its catchment area is very huge at around 100 square km. The collected water is then treated to become a drinking water supply.

Marina Bay and Kallang Basin areas, which are part of Maina Reservoir are popular locations for community events, water sports, and other recreational activities. As such, regular cleaning and pollution control are important measures to maintain high water quality.

Marina Barrage

Marina Barrage is a 350 m long dam built across Marina Channel to keep out seawater to form the Marina Reservoir.

As well, Marina Barrage enables flood control to reduce flooding in low-lying areas around the reservoir. During heavy rain and low tide, gates at the dam can be opened to release excess stormwater into the sea. During heavy rain and high tide, pumps at the dam can be operated to drain excess stormwater into the sea.

The Walk

If you don’t drive and travel on Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains, MRT Thomson East Coast Line’s Gardens by the Bay station has an exit just within 250 m from Marina Barrage. Therefore, you may start your walk from Gardens by the Bay station exit at Marina Barrage. Walk up to Marina Barrage Open Space, which is a large sloped grass field that forms part of the roof of the Marina Barrage building.

You may then cross the 350 m dam to Gardens by the Bay – Bay East. Walk in the southern direction to reach the breakwater at Marina East, and then in the reverse direction along the east bank of Marina Reservoir towards Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

You may stop at Bay East Garden or continue to reach beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

The one-way distance between Gardens by the Bay station exit at Marina Barrage and Bay East Garden is about 2 km.

If you want to avoid the hot and humid Singapore weather, early mornings and evenings are the best times for taking this walk.

Want to discover more great walking locations? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.

Walking path on the west bank of the Marina Reservoir.

Marina Barrage Open Space is a large sloped grass field that forms part of the roof of the Marina Barrage building.

Marina Reservoir at the Gardens by the Bay - Bay West.

Freshwater on the right side and seawater on the left side of the dam at Marina Barrage.

A fisherman at Gardens by the Bay - Bay East outside Marina Barrage. Marina Barrage, Marina Bay Sands, Supertree Grove and the 2 Domes of Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Flyer can be seen from here.

Breakwater at Marina East outside Marina Reservoir and Marina Barrage.

Marina Barrage is a 350 m long dam built across Marina Channel to keep out seawater to form the Marina Reservoir. If you don’t drive and travel on Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains, MRT Thomson East Coast Line’s Gardens by the Bay station has an exit just within 250 m from Marina Barrage.