Singapore has 17 reservoirs. PUB’s current water-catchment overview confirms the count. Some have familiar public parks, while a name on the reservoir list is not, by itself, an invitation to walk around the water’s edge.
For an outing, start with the park or designated public site, then check its access notices, route and facilities. This guide separates the full list from practical places to visit.
What is a reservoir?
A reservoir stores water. Singapore collects rain through rivers, canals and drains and channels it into reservoirs for treatment before drinking-water use. This is different from desalination, which treats seawater. Local catchment water is one of Singapore’s four water sources; it is not a replacement name for imported water, NEWater or desalinated water. See PUB’s explanation of local catchment water.
Reservoirs and public parks are different
A reservoir can sit beside a park, nature reserve or other infrastructure. A park’s opening hours and facilities do not necessarily apply to every part of the reservoir. Use PUB’s public reservoirs and waterways directory and NParks’ park directory to choose a designated visitor area.
For fishing or an on-water activity, check the specific site and operator first. PUB publishes designated fishing areas and rules. A waterside path does not mean fishing, swimming or launching a boat is permitted there.
The full list of Singapore’s 17 reservoirs
The following names appear on PUB’s numbered reservoir map. Jurong Lake is included in that list.
- Tengeh Reservoir
- Poyan Reservoir
- Murai Reservoir
- Sarimbun Reservoir
- Kranji Reservoir
- Jurong Lake
- Pandan Reservoir
- Upper Peirce Reservoir
- Upper Seletar Reservoir
- Lower Seletar Reservoir
- Lower Peirce Reservoir
- MacRitchie Reservoir
- Marina Reservoir
- Punggol Reservoir
- Serangoon Reservoir
- Bedok Reservoir
- Tekong Reservoir
Below are the visitor-facing highlights and the distinctions worth checking when planning a day out.
Bedok Reservoir
PHOTO: Ian Kee/ Getty Images
For a straightforward walking or running route in the east, Bedok Reservoir Park has a 4.3km track around the reservoir. NParks lists the park at 41.7 hectares, with a floating deck and waterside viewpoints.
Plan your visit: choose your starting point and decide whether you want the full loop or a shorter waterside walk. Check PUB’s notices for works affecting facilities such as fishing decks.
Upper Seletar Reservoir
Upper Seletar Reservoir Park, along Mandai Road Track 7, is known for its rocket-shaped lookout tower and reservoir views. The 15-hectare figure refers to the park, not the reservoir’s water surface.
Plan your visit: use the current NParks map and visitor information to check access. The tower and the waterside scenery provide different viewpoints, so choose a route that suits your group.
Lower Seletar Reservoir
Lower Seletar is a separate reservoir from Upper Seletar. For a public outing, look at the Family Bay and Rower’s Bay sites listed by PUB, then check the relevant park information.
Plan your visit: decide whether you want a short walk or a booked activity. Do not assume kayak rental, fishing access or an activity session is available simply because the water is accessible from a park.
Lower Peirce Reservoir
PHOTO: Shariffah Nadia/ Butler Mag
Lower Peirce Reservoir Park surrounds Singapore’s second-oldest reservoir. The correct spelling is “Peirce”. Its 900m boardwalk offers a forest-and-water walk; NParks lists boardwalk hours as 7am–7pm and notes that it is not wheelchair accessible.
Plan your visit: distinguish the boardwalk from the wider park when checking access. Read the map before deciding whether the route suits a pushchair or anyone needing step-free access.
Upper Peirce Reservoir
Upper Peirce Reservoir Park is a quiet option along Old Upper Thomson Road. NParks records the reservoir’s completion in 1975.
Plan your visit: check the park’s entrance, opening hours and map before travelling. If adding the Singapore Island Country Club Public Access Trail, check its separate route information and current access notices.
Kranji Reservoir
Kranji offers a different setting from the central forest reservoirs, with a public reservoir park in the north-west. Use PUB’s Kranji site listing to orient your visit and check the current visitor information.
Plan your visit: confirm your arrival and return journey before setting off. Choose a designated public viewpoint; for fishing, consult PUB’s designated-area rules rather than treating the whole shoreline as an angling spot.
Punggol Reservoir
Punggol Reservoir and Punggol Waterway Park are related parts of the wider waterside landscape, but the park is not simply another name for the entire reservoir. NParks describes four themed areas in the park, including Nature Cove and the Heritage Zone.
Plan your visit: choose a park entrance, bridge or destination on the map. For a longer outing, check the connecting paths and your return route instead of assuming every waterside path completes a reservoir loop.
Serangoon Reservoir
Serangoon is one of the reservoirs added to Singapore’s local catchment system in 2011, alongside Punggol. They are separate named reservoirs, not one waterbody under two names. See PUB’s catchment overview.
Plan your visit: use the Serangoon Reservoir public-site listing to identify where you intend to go, then check the connecting park route rather than relying on an assumed end-to-end distance.
Tengeh Reservoir
Tengeh is also part of Singapore’s water and energy story. The Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm opened on 14 July 2021. The project connects reservoir infrastructure with renewable energy generation.
Plan your visit: a reservoir’s inclusion in the national system does not establish a public park or visitor route. Use the official public-site directories when choosing a recreational destination.
Pandan Reservoir
For Pandan, use PUB’s Pandan Reservoir site information and current notices to plan a waterside outing. Pandan is one of the 17 reservoirs on PUB’s map. Its catchment includes Sungei Pandan and Sungei Ulu Pandan.
Plan your visit: check access around works or temporary closures, especially if you are expecting to use a pontoon or an on-water facility. Do not assume every facility beside the water is open.
Marina Reservoir
Marina Barrage is the tidal barrier that created Marina Reservoir; the two names describe different things. PUB explains its water-supply, flood-control and recreational roles. The Green Roof is a familiar place for skyline views, kite-flying and picnics.
Plan your visit: check current visitor information and the activity rules. Relatively steady water levels are not a guarantee against rough conditions or capsizing; use an authorised activity provider and follow its requirements.
Jurong Lake
Jurong Lake appears in PUB’s list of 17 reservoirs. Jurong Lake Gardens is the surrounding visitor destination, with its own gardens, routes, facilities and access notices. The size of the garden should not be presented as the waterbody’s area.
Plan your visit: pick the part of the gardens you want to explore and check the live notices before travelling. A large garden visit is easier to plan around a chosen entrance and destination than an assumption that every feature is nearby.
Tekong Reservoir
Tekong Reservoir is included in PUB’s national reservoir map. It belongs in a complete reservoir list, but that list is not a public recreation itinerary. Do not plan an independent reservoir-park visit from the name alone.
For an ordinary day out, choose a designated public site from PUB’s reservoirs and waterways directory.
The western catchment: Sarimbun, Poyan and Murai
Sarimbun, Poyan and Murai are three separate reservoir names on PUB’s map, alongside Tengeh in the west. Their place in the water system does not mean there are public park routes around them.
Use the official public-site directories for an outing and follow access signs. Do not enter restricted land or follow an unofficial shortcut towards a reservoir.
MacRitchie Reservoir
MacRitchie is Singapore’s oldest reservoir. PUB’s historical timeline records its completion in 1867.
For a walk, choose a route from NParks’ current trail guide. The TreeTop Walk is part of a longer walking route, not a viewpoint beside the carpark. Check its opening hours, last-entry time and access status before setting out.
Facilities check: PUB has announced toilet upgrading at the Amenities Centre and Hilltop from late October 2026 to late December 2027. Read the current notice and temporary-facility arrangements before visiting.
A short checklist before any reservoir outing
- Confirm the designated public entrance and a route that suits your group.
- Check opening hours, works and facility closures on the official site.
- Follow NParks’ nature-reserve guidance, including avoiding forested areas during bad weather.
- Use marked paths, respect access restrictions and leave wildlife undisturbed.
- Take litter away and follow the site’s fishing and water-activity rules.