--- title: "Serangoon resident shocked to find murky rainwater collected during downpour amid elevated haze levels" url: "/trending-now/serangoon-residents-shocked-find-murky-rainwater-collected-during-downpour-amid-elevated-haze-levels" published: "2026-10-16T05:10:43.000Z" updated: "2026-10-16T06:43:51.000Z" section: "Trending Now" authors: ["Trixy Toh"] tags: ["TNP News","Rain","water","downpour","haze"] --- # Serangoon resident shocked to find murky rainwater collected during downpour amid elevated haze levels *A Serangoon resident was shocked to find two buckets of murky rainwater collected during a heavy downpour on Oct 15, amid elevated haze levels.* A Serangoon resident was shocked to find two buckets of murky rainwater collected during a heavy downpour on Oct 15, amid elevated haze levels. In an video posted to Instagram on the same day, user @jay_lim22wow captured dark rainwater pooling in buckets he had placed outside his flat. “Can see how polluted is the air!” reads the on-screen caption. ## Residents shocked to find dark rain water pooling in buckets The video shows two buckets perched on a laundry rack, both half-filled with blackish water as rain continues to pour. ![black rainwater haze downpour](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/16c8405d81dec53bd956b35a48d6e76895a0d04e59ab7f13f765a5abf7d95565) *“Can see how polluted is the air!” reads the on-screen caption.* Speaking to Stomp, the Instagram user, whose real name is Jay Lim, said the incident occurred at around 7.30am on Oct 15, during a downpour at his home in Serangoon. The 54-year-old food and beverage operator explained that he collects rainwater periodically to water his plants. While grateful that the rain helped ease the haze, Lim said he was shocked by the colour of the rainwater. “I was shocked yesterday... Couldn’t believe my eyes,” Lim recounted. Lim added that he poured away the first batch of rainwater, but subsequent batches remained murky. In another video posted on the same day, Instagram page @singaporeparents showed three buckets of "dirty” rainwater. “Downpours on 15 Oct cleared the haze but left an unsettling sight,” the caption read, describing the collected water as murky and grey. Stomp has reached out to the National Environment Agency (NEA) for comment. ## Minimal impact on water supply: Expert Dr Wang Jing Yu (transliterated), a climate change researcher at the National Institute of Education (NIE), told Lianhe Zaobao that the murky rainwater was directly linked to the haze. He explained that rainwater droplets can capture soot particles as they fall through polluted air, carrying them to the ground. This process, known as wet scavenging, can cause rainwater to become discoloured. Even so, Wang said that this is unlikely to affect Singapore’s water supply. While soot particles may enter water catchment areas, their impact is limited by dilution and by Singapore’s water treatment process. He added that skin contact with the contaminated rainwater is unlikely to cause burns, and most contaminants can be washed away by simply using water. However, the pollutants could irritate the skin or eyes of individuals with sensitivities or allergies. Ingesting contaminated rainwater may cause stomach pain or diarrhoea, but Wang said the main health concern during haze episodes remains the inhalation of polluted air. In another interview, Wang warned that larger contaminated water droplets can irritate the respiratory tract, while smaller droplets can penetrate deeper into the lungs. He advised the public to avoid touching or collecting the murky rainwater, and not to drink it. Those who come into contact with it should wash the affected skin thoroughly with clean water. Wang also urged people to follow standard haze precautions, including staying indoors where possible and wearing N95 masks outdoors. Masks should be replaced if they get wet from rain. ## PUB issued heavy rain warning on Oct 15 National water agency PUB issued flash flood warnings for parts of Bartley and Upper Paya Lebar on Oct 15, advising the public to avoid Lorong Gambir and a service road off Upper Paya Lebar Road for an hour from 7.48am and 7.51am respectively. Earlier in the day, the NEA had forecast moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty winds across many parts of Singapore from 8.25am to 9.30am. By 8.54am, the agency said the heavy rain had eased. ## Mask distribution commences The People’s Association (PA) grassroots organisations started distributing N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans from Oct 14. Those eligible include: - Seniors - Pregnant women - Children - Teenages - People with medical conditions such as asthma Mask vending machines will also be available at 37 public transport hubs and social service offices to complement PA’s distribution efforts. The PA offices and vending machine locations are found at go.gov.sg/hazemask, and residents can find their nearest haze shelter at www.pa.gov.sg/our-network/community-clubs/shelters/ Haze conditions worsened across the Republic on Oct 16, with 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings in the central, east and west regions reaching the “very unhealthy” range.