History of NEWater

History

NEWater may sound like an overnight success for Singapore. But its evolution is a journey that spanned 3 decades. Singapore's first water masterplan was drawn up in 1972. In 1974, PUB built a pilot plant to turn used water into potable water. This was the precursor of today's NEWater factories. But it was ahead of its time. The costs were astronomical and the membranes were unreliable, so the idea was shelved to await further technological advancement. In 1998, the necessary technology had matured and driven production costs down. In May 2000, the first NEWater plant was completed.

Now

Currently, there are 4 NEWater plants in Singapore. The latest and the largest NEWater plant at Changi with a capacity of 50mgd was opened in May 2010. With this addition, coupled with the expansion of the existing plants, NEWater now meets 30% of Singapore’s total water demand. By 2060, NEWater is projected to meet 50% of Singapore’s future water demand. Read more on NEWater - the 3rd National Tap Read more on NEWater Visitor Centre The NEWater Visitor Centre, which was opened in February 2003, is the focal point of PUB’s public education on NEWater. The centre highlights the importance of water and how Singapore leverages on advances in technology to reclaim water. Visitors are able to view firsthand the operation of the advanced dual membrane and ultraviolet technologies used to produce NEWater. Sources: http://www.pub.gov.sg/about/historyfuture/Pages/NEWater.aspx