SINGAPORE TO RAMP UP ITS WATER SUPPLY

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, June 29 (Bernama) -– Singapore plans to triple the current
reclaimed water (NEWater) capacity to meet 50 per cent of its demand by 2060.

The island republic also plans to ramp up desalination capacity by almost 10
times so that desalinated water will meet at least 30 per cent of its water
demand in the long term.

These long-term plans were contained in a publication produced by PUB, the
national water agency, and unveiled by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee
Hean at the opening of the Singapore International Water Week, the global
platform for water solutions, here Monday.

PUB expects Singapore’s water demand to double in the next 50 years, with
about 70 per cent of the demand coming from the non-domestic sector, and
domestic consumption making up the other 30 per cent.

The city-state currently sources its water from local catchment, imported
water, high grade reclaimed water and desalinated water.

Teo said, despite its limited land area of 710 sq km, Singapore planned to
collect every drop of rain, and with the latest three reservoirs at Marina,
Punggol and Serangoon, two-thirds of the country would become a huge water
catchment.

He added that Singapore, with a population of over four million, aimed to
expand its water catchment area to 90 per cent of its land eventually.

Today, each Singaporean uses 155 litres of water daily on average.

-- BERNAMA