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The idea of NEWater started way back in the 1970s.
However, the high cost of membrane technology then meant
that water reuse was not feasible. When membrane technol-
ogy improved in the 90s, the idea of water reuse was revisited
and a full-scale demonstration plant was commissioned in 2000
to undertake extensive studies on the quality of reclaimed
water and the reliability of membrane technology.
After an extensive battery of tests and analysis by an inter-
national panel of experts comprising renowned local and
foreign experts in the fields of engineering, biomedical science,
chemistry and water technology, NEWater was certified to be
of a consistently high quality, and well within the requirements
of the USEPA and WHO standards for drinking water. This
lead to the full-scale production of NEWater as an alternative
source of water.
Through using each drop of water more than once, NEWater
effectively multiplies Singapore’s water resources and
contributes significantly to its water sustainability. There are
currently four NEWater plants in operation, capable of supply-
ing 55 megagallons per day (mgd) of NEWater, with further
expansion plans in the pipeline to cater to the anticipate growth
in demand. PUB’s current target is to meet 15 per cent of the
water demand through NEWater by the year 2011.
NEWater is the result of an important shift in paradigm to
view wastewater as an important resource, to be recycled and
re-used. This is in contrast to the previous mindset which was
to simply dispose of wastewater in the sea. To reflect this
change, PUB has introduced new vocabulary, replacing the term
“sewerage” with the new term “used water”. This signals a new
approach to water management and communicates to the
public the need to view water as a renewable resource.
Besides NEWater, Singapore also opened its first seawater
reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant last year. Built through
a Design, Build, Own and Operate (DBOO) partnership with
supply and demand side management. This is encapsulated
in our corporate tagline – ‘Water for All: Conserve, Value,
Enjoy’. Water for All refers to our supply augmentation strat-
egy to increase the number of sources of water as well as to use
existing sources more efficiently. On the demand side, PUB’s
efforts largely include the engagement of the public in order
to educate them about the value of water and encourage
conservation.
Supply management
To maximize the collection of rainwater, the existing water
catchments already form about half of Singapore’s total land
area. With the completion of the two new reservoir schemes,
including Singapore’s 15th reservoir, the Marina Reservoir, the
water catchment will grow from the current half to two-thirds
of Singapore’s land area by 2009.
Many cities around the world are built around reservoirs,
but PUB is creating a reservoir right in the middle of the city.
Dubbed ‘the reservoir in the city’, the Marina Reservoir will be
formed by building a dam across the mouth of the Marina
Channel.
One of the key features of the Marina Reservoir is its multi-
ple functions. Primarily, it provides water storage, but is also
a venue for water-based recreation, as well as a means of flood
control. The dam, spanning 350m, can be utilised during a
heavy storm to pump water out to sea. Thus the Marina
Reservoir will serve to maximise water supply capacity during
times of low rainfall as well as substantially lower the risk of
flooding in the event of a storm.
NEWater is the zenith of Singapore’s water supply diversifi-
cation strategy. Produced from the reclamation of treated used
water, it is now a reliable source of water supply for the
commercial and industrial sectors, accounting for almost 7 per
cent of Singapore’s water demand.
Sports and leisure: dragon boat racing in Singapore River
Photo: PUB – Singapore’s National Water Agency