The Singapore Water Story

Water: From Vulnerability to Strength With no natural aquifers or an abundance of land, Singapore has recognised providing sustainable supply of water for its people as a vital issue in the 1960s. In the early days, we faced and overcame drought, floods and water pollution as the city grew. These challenges have inspired us to innovate and develop capabilities in this area, turning our weakness into strength. Looking back through Singapore’s water journey over half a century, we have, through investment in research and technology, found an integrated, effective and cost-efficient way to solve our water challenges. Our experience in effectively addressing our water challenges has earned us international recognition as a model city for water management and an emerging global hydrohub. Quest for a Diversified and Sustainable Supply of Water Engaging the Community Global Hydrohub

Quest for a Diversified and Sustainable Supply of Water Over the last 50 years, through strategic planning and investment in research and technology, Singapore’s national water agency PUB has built a robust and diversified supply of water known as the ‘Four National Taps’. The water supply comprises (1) local catchment water, (2) imported water, (3) highly-purified reclaimed water known as NEWater, and (4) desalinated water. Local Catchment Water Singapore has two separate systems to collect rainwater and used water. Rainwater is collected through a comprehensive network of drains, canals, rivers, storm-water collection ponds and reservoirs before it is treated for drinking water supply. This makes Singapore one of the few countries in the world to harvest urban storm-water on a large-scale for its water supply. Local catchment water is a pillar of our sustainable water supply. Since 2011, the water catchment area has been increased from half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land surface with the completion of the Marina, Punggol and Serangoon Reservoir. With all the major estuaries already dammed to create reservoirs, PUB aims to harness water from the remaining streams and rivulets near the shoreline using technology that can treat water of varying salinity. This will boost Singapore’s water catchment area to 90% in the long term. Imported Water Singapore has been importing water from Johor, Malaysia, under two bilateral agreements. The first agreement expired in August 2011 and second agreement will expire in 2061. NEWater A Singapore success story and the pillar of Singapore’s water sustainability, NEWater is high-grade reclaimed water produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink. In 2010, Singapore’s latest and largest NEWater plant was completed. Together, Singapore's four NEWater plants can meet 30% of the nation’s water needs. By 2060, we plan to expand the current NEWater capacity so that NEWater can meet up to 55% of our future water demand. Desalinated Water Another technology-based water source is desalinated water. Singapore has one of Asia’s largest seawater reverse-osmosis plant, which produces 30 million gallons of water a day (136,000 cubic metres) to meet about 10% of Singapore’s water needs. The second 70mgd desalination plant will be completed in 2013. By 2060, we intend to ramp up desalination capacity so that desalinated water can meet up to 25% of our water demand in the long term. Multiple water projects were also initiated to ensure a sustainable water supply for Singapore. These include clean-up of the Singapore River, building the Marina Barrage and creating the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. Reservoir In the City An iconic structure at the mouth of the Marina Channel and the vision of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew more than twenty years ago, Marina Barrage creates Singapore’s fifteenth reservoir, the Marina Reservoir. The barrage serves three benefits: it creates a freshwater lake to boost Singapore’s water supply, acts as a tidal barrier to prevent flooding in low-lying city areas, and keeps the water level consistent, offering a venue for water-based activities in the heart of the city. In addition, there are opportunities abound for people to connect with water at the barrage. This helps to nurture of ownership of Singapore’s precious water resources, so people will do their part to keep our waters clean. At the same time, it is also a celebration of the beauty and preciousness of Singapore’s waters. The variety of recreational activities available at the barrage has made it the new hotspot in the city centre, with more than 3.5 mllion visitors since its opening. In 2011, Marina Reservoir with Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs, which are our 16th and 17th reservoirs, increased Singapore’s water catchment from half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land surface. Used Water Superhighway The Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS), a 48-kilometer-long used water superhighway, conveys used water from the northern and eastern parts of Singapore to the centralised Changi Water Reclamation Plant for treatment before the treated used water is further purified into NEWater. We are now planning for Phase 2 of the DTSS. Similar to DTSS Phase 1, DTSS Phase 2 will consist of four components: a deep tunnel (South Tunnel), associated link sewers, a centralized WRP integrated with NEWater facilities and deep sea outfall. It will cover the western part of Singapore, including the downtown city area and major upcoming developments such as Tengah New Town, and is targeted for completion in 2022.

Engaging the Community Achieving an adequate and affordable water supply is not enough. Equally important is to get public buy-in, to have greater ownership of and to value our water resources. PUB has embarked on a new shift in Singapore water management. The water agencies encourage everyone in the 3P (People, Public and Private) sectors to take joint ownership of Singapore’s water resource management. Known as the 3P approach, this is embodied in PUB’s tagline – Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy. Central to this new approach is the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters(ABC Waters) Programme which will transform Singapore’s reservoirs and water bodies into beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes, creating a vibrant City of Gardens and Water. At the same time, these new community spaces bring people closer to water, so they better appreciate and cherish this precious resource. Over 100 potential locations have been identified for the implementation of the programme by 2030. Over 20 projects have been completed island-wide, and more will be rolled out between now and 2017 to various parts of Singapore. In addition, PUB has a host of programmes to reach out to the community: The Water Network panel is a high-level panel representing different stakeholders in the water industry and people from the community. They provide feedback and alternate perspectives on PUB’s projects and programmes. Water conservation programmes like 10% Challenge and 10-Litre Challenge encourage industries and households to use water wisely, and save 10% of their water consumption, and 10 litres of water a day respectively. The aim is to lower per capita domestic consumption from the current 152 litres to 147 litres by 2020. The Watermark Award is an annual award to recognise individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions towards the water cause. Friends of Water is a programme that recognises individuals and organisations who contribute towards raising awareness about water and sustaining Singapore’s water supply.  Schools and organisations are encouraged to join “Our Waters programme” which allows them to adopt waterbodies and look after them.

Singapore – Global Hydrohub Singapore has identified water and environment technologies as a key growth sector since 2006, and we are now well-placed to take the lead as an R&D base and as a wellspring of water solutions. Through the Environment and Water Programme Office (EWI), which spearheads the growth of Singapore’s water industry, the National Research Foundation (NRF) has committed $470 million to promote R&D in the water sector. EWI, an inter-agency outfit led by PUB, is spearheading efforts to transform Singapore into a global hydrohub. Through funding promising research projects, the EWI aims to foster leading-edge technologies and create a thriving and vibrant research community in Singapore. Today, Singapore’s vibrant water ecosystem has a thriving cluster of 100 international and local water companies and 25 research centers. PUB is actively working with the industry to come up with new, innovative ideas that may make a difference to the water world. In line with our aspirations to grow the global hydrohub, Singapore has also successfully hosted the Singapore International Water Week, a meeting place for the who’s who in the water industry, in the last five years. Singapore International Water Week 2012 As the global platform to share and co-create innovative water solutions, Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2012 saw more than 19,000 policymakers, corporate CEOs, water professionals, and researchers from 104 countries/regions in attendance. In its sixth year in 2014, SIWW reinforces a commitment to the global integration of sustainable water management strategies with urban planning processes. Addressing contemporary challenges, SIWW gathers global water leaders and practitioners from both public and private sectors to engage in discussion and debate, network with key industry players, showcase leading-edge technologies and best practices, and identify practical methodologies to address the world’s most pressing water issues. The 6th Singapore International Water Week will be held in conjunction with the 4th World Cities Summit and the 2nd CleanEnviro Summit Singapore, from 1 to 5 June 2014 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore. http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/Pages/singaporewaterstory.aspx