The Unquiet City
Jul 20, 2011 - By: Daniel Seifert
While air and water contamination regularly fill media headlines, there is another kind that is affecting cities around the world: noise pollution. As an industrialised, urbanised and economically successful state, Singapore is no exception.


(The main cause of noise pollution in Singapore is MRT trains. Image courtesy of Calvin Teo.)

The main culprit is noise from MRT lines that lie close to residences. Developments within the transportation system have focused on putting more trains on the ground, and many residents resent growing noise levels.

In many ways, Singapore is a victim of its own success – the sheer number of skyscrapers means more sound is reflected off them. The taller a building is, the louder a noise will be, as sound travels upwards. Up until roughly 15 storeys, noise levels increase level by level. To combat this, noise barriers can be erected (there is already one built in Jurong). Countries such as Japan, Germany and Australia have installed many in their cities.

While authorities have built walls (such as that in Toa Payoh Lorong 1, shielding it from the Pan-Island Expressway), planted trees and used porous asphalt to dampen vehicle noise, these measure are not always effective for multi-storey buildings. Residents can elect to install double-glazed windows. Although they effectively dampen noise, they only work when closed, and can be costly for people who, as a consequence, need to turn on air-conditioners or fans.

As the country’s population has steadily risen over the years, commuter numbers have similarly increased, leading the SMRT to increase the frequency of their services on the North-South and East-West lines. While this has alleviated commuter crowding, it has also been a source of annoyance for those living near train lines, who have to suffer the near-ceaseless noise emanating from the tracks. And the older the tracks, the greater the noise.

To calm the growing dissatisfaction, the Government recently announced plans to measure sound levels along the 65km of elevated MRT tracks. There will also be a study by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), which will examine both road and rail locations around the city in order to recommend solutions. This study is slated to conclude at the start of 2012.

In the meantime, the number of vehicles zipping along Singapore streets will doubtlessly increase – in 2000, there were 692,807 vehicles on the roads. Last month, there were 951,307, an increase of 37%. This increase is likely to raise the noise levels in residential areas, as larger numbers of people drive to and from work.

Currently, NEA regulations limit train noise to 67 decibels over a one-hour period – that’s about the level you’d expect to find in a supermarket. This is the same limit for roads and expressways. Some people disagree with this, arguing that when trains pass by, the noise level can spike, even though the one-hour average does not exceed 67 decibels. These spikes can be particularly disturbing at night, when residents are sleeping and the accompanying white noise is lower.

As Singapore grows, however, it becomes more and more difficult to effectively limit noise pollution. Noise barriers can help, but a certain amount of noise is always to be expected, particularly near MRT line areas.
Related Categories: Daily Property News and Updates, Issues & Challenges

Tags: how to keep noise away from your home, Jurong, Land Transport Authority, living in Singapore, LTA, MRT, National Environment Agency, NEA, noise barriers, noise pollution, SMRT, Toa Payoh