Summary Reader Response - Draft 2
With the rising of Singapore
water demand and the non-domestic sector taking up to 70%, I believe that
desalination water and NEWater will be able to supply up 85% of the nation’s
future needs.
Public Utilities Board (PUB) has
provided information on what they have implemented to secure Singapore’s water
future. PUB has implemented phrase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System
project. With phrase 2, the existing tunnel system will be extended into the
western part of Singapore. With the extension, there will be an increase to the
amount of water being conveyed to the treatment plant. From the article, PUB
stated that “By collecting every drop of used water, DTSS allows for efficient,
large-scale water recycling thus ensuring the sustainability of NEWater.” This
implies that more areas in Singapore will be covered and water collected for
treatment into NEWater and increases the amount of NEWater produced.
The Straits Times new release (Feb
5, 2021) covering the opening of Singapore’s fourth desalination plant provide
the insight on how desalination plant can meet Singapore’s future needs. Keppel
marina east desalination plant is the first of its kind with the ability to
treat both sea and reservoir water. To ensure water security, desalination has
been chosen as a weatherproof solution. Unlike other national taps, the sea is
an unlimited resource which will provide us with water in the event of dry
weather. Mr Chew Chee Keong, PUB
's director for water supply (plants) stated that “With climate change, we can
expect more weather uncertainty – we are likely to experience more intense rainfall
and more severe drought. (The plant's) dual mode function affords PUB greater
operational flexibility to respond to the vagaries of weather, thereby
strengthening Singapore's water supply resilience.” This implies that with the addition of the technology
to treat both sea and reservoir water, desalination plants can meet the nations
future water demand.
Public Utilities Board (PUB)
stated on their website that they have been actively investing in research and
development. By pouring resources into water technologies, Singapore will
continue to have more innovative ways to increase the capacity to treat water.
In cases like desalination, PUB invested into electro-deionisation (EDI)
technology, it uses electric field to extract dissolved salts from seawater. If
succeed this will increase the capacity of desalination of seawater, which in
turn will further secure Singapore future. From the article “PUB innovation in Singapore
08” from Public Utilities Board (PUB) website. PUB mention that “With rising energy
costs and desalinated water expected to meet a greater percentage of
Singapore’s water demand in future, there is an urgent need to explore
innovative ways to reduce the amount of energy used for seawater
desalination.”. Innovation in water technologies will be one of the paths in
meeting Singapore’s future water needs. By introducing more effective ways to
treat and process water.
In conclusion, with all the
actions taken, PUB is confident that desalination water and NEWater will be
able to cover up to 85% of Singapore’s future water needs.
References
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