Lower Peirce Reservoir

Lower Peirce Reservoir
view from waterside boardwalk
Coordinates
Type	reservoir
Primary outflows	Kallang River
Basin countries	Singapore
Surface area	6 ha

The Lower Peirce Reservoir (Chinese: 贝雅士蓄水池下段) is one of the oldest reservoirs in Singapore. It is located near MacRitchie Reservoir and Upper Peirce Reservoir. Previously known as Kallang River Reservoir and Peirce Reservoir, it was renamed Lower Peirce Reservoir after the creation of Upper Peirce Reservoir. It has a surface area of 6 hectares and the surrounding forest contains many trees that are over 100 years old. There is a Lower Peirce Trail, which is a 900-metre boardwalk that takes visitors through a mature secondary forest. The reservoir is the source of the Kallang River, the longest river in Singapore.

History

Originally known as the Kallang River Reservoir, Singapore's second reservoir was impounded across the lower reaches of the Kallang River in 1910. In 1922, it was renamed Peirce Reservoir in commendation of the services of Robert Peirce, who was the municipal engineer of Singapore from 1901 to 1916.

In 1975, a major water supply project to develop new water resources was undertaken to support Singapore's rapid housing and industrialisation programmes. A dam was constructed at the upper reaches of the Peirce Reservoir, forming the Upper and Lower Peirce Reservoirs.

Upper Peirce Reservoir was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 27 February 1977.

Pillar 7/BASE7

Under the Boundaries and Survey Maps (Conduct of Cadastral Surveys) Rules, the Lower Peirce Reservoir is also home of the reference point used for Singapore's geodetic co-ordinate datum or SVY21. The location is at latitude 1°22’02.915414" N, longitude 103° 49’31.975227" E and is marked by a green pillar. Under Singapore Land Authority's Guidelines and Specifications for GPS Surveys of ISN Markers, surveyors in Singapore are required to conduct a gross error test of their GPS equipment at this reference point.

Nature

Green crested lizard Bronchocela cristatella, Lower Pierce

White-bellied fish eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster (subadult), Lower Pierce

Various wild fauna can be found here. In the forest, one may find some of the elusive animals, such as Lesser mouse-deer, Buffy fish owl, Reticulated python and Haas' bronzeback. Other more common forest animals include Wild pig, Slender Squirrel and Green crested lizard. In the reservoir, one may find Asian softshell turtle, Water monitor and Common Snakehead. Other birds that can be found here include the resident Grey-headed fish eagle, Sunda scops owl, Blue-eared kingfisher, Cream-vented bulbul, Abbott's babbler and Purple-throated sunbird, as well as the migrant Black-backed kingfisher, Orange-headed thrush and Green-backed flycatcher.

References

• National Parks Board website
• Infopedia, Peirce Reservoir (National Library Board)
• Guidelines and Specifications for GPS Surveys of ISN Markers

Getting There

Visitors can board SBS Transit Bus Service 163, SMRT bus 167, 169, 855, 980. They can also travel by car and Lower Peirce Reservoir Park is located off Upp Thomson Road.

Service	From	To	Notes
SBS Transit Trunk Services
163	Toa Payoh Bus Interchange	Sengkang Bus Interchange
SMRT Buses Trunk Services
167	Sembawang Bus Interchange	Bukit Merah Bus Interchange
169	Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange	Woodlands Bus Interchange
855	Yishun Bus Interchange	HarbourFront Bus Interchange
980	Sembawang Bus Interchange	Geylang Lorong 1 Bus Terminal