SUMMARY READER RESPONSE

 

In the article, “Singapore Water Story” from Public Utilities Board (PUB) website (2020), PUB claimed that by the year 2060 Singapore’s water demand could double. With the non-domestic sector accounts for about 70 percent of Singapore’s future water needs, NEWater and desalinated water will be able to cover up to 85% of Singapore’s water needs. To keep up with the increase of water demand, investments has been made to conduct research and development of technology to “treat”, “recycle” and “supply water”. By 2060, NEWater is estimated to fulfil up to 55 percent of Singapore’s water needs. With the addition of two more desalination plant, desalinated water is projected to meet up to 30 percent of the potential water needs of Singapore. As Singapore’s water demand grows, we need to establish a stable & affordable water supply for generations to come.  Everyone has a part to play in the effort towards managing Singapore’s water demand.

With the rising of Singapore water demand and the non-domestic sector taking up to 70%, Singapore need to be able to keep up with the demand. PUB highlighted that desalination water and NEWater will be able to supply up 85% of the nation’s future needs.

Deep Tunnel Sewerage System is one of PUB’s project to ensure NEWater will be able to keep up with the rising demand. Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System project consist of extending existing tunnel system into the western part of Singapore. With this extension, there will be an increase to the amount of water being conveyed to the treatment plant. According to PUB (2020) “By collecting every drop of used water, DTSS allows for efficient, large-scale water recycling thus ensuring the sustainability of NEWater.” (p.1) This implies that more areas in Singapore will be covered and water collected for treatment into NEWater will increase. Thus. By expanding the tunnels, NEWater will be able to keep up with the nation’s water demand.

The opening of Singapore’s fourth desalination plant provides insight on how desalination plant can meet Singapore’s future needs. According to The Straits Times (2021), 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 the nation with water in the event of dry weather. This concludes that with the addition of the technology to treat both sea and reservoir water, desalination plants can meet the nation’s future water demand.

Singapore has been actively investing in research and development of technologies to solve the nations water problem. By pouring resources into researching water technologies, Singapore will continue to have more innovative ways to increase the capacity to treat water. According to PUB Innovative in Water Singapore 08 (2016), PUB invested into reverse electrodialysis (RED)-based seawater desalination technology. If succeed this will increase the capacity of desalination of seawater, which in turn will further secure Singapore’s water future. 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, the nation’s water network will expand, and Singapore’s water security will be secured.

In conclusion, with all the actions taken by the government and its counterparts, desalination and NEWater will be able to cover up to 85% of Singapore’s future water demand. Efforts by the government is far from enough, to secure Singapore’s water security it will take both the government and its people to work together. Everyone has a part to play in the effort in managing the nation’s rising water demand.