A Water Resilient Singapore
Water is all around us, from the rain pelting against our windows to the waves crashing on the beach.
But did you know that rivers and lakes — the most readily available freshwater sources that most of the world’s population depend on — only accounts for about 1% of the world’s water? Our other sources of water are either found as saltwater in the oceans, or locked away in glaciers, polar ice caps and even underground.
Yet in Singapore today, we can instantly get water that’s safe and wholesome to drink with just a turn of the tap. It is so clean that it checks all the boxes of the World Health Organisation’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. (Yes, this means that there’s no need to boil or filter our tap water, which uses more energy than necessary!)
Our ready access to drinking water did not come easy. It involved decades of planning and innovation — beset with many challenges and uncertainties — to build a robust and diversified water supply strategy that we now know as the “Four National Taps:
- Water from Local Catchment
- Imported Water
- NEWater
- Desalinated Water
However, the greatest challenge to our water sustainability is now at hand — climate change. The impact of extreme weather caused by climate change, such as more intense rainfall and severe dry spells all over the world, is putting a strain on our water resources.
Managing our water resources in the face of climate change
Singapore is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Our hot days have become hotter, while our rainy days have gotten more erratic and stormier. Prolonged dry weather can also impact both our local water catchments (such as reservoirs) and imported water supply. Also, given our limited land area, there’s not enough space to store all the rainwater that falls on Singapore.
To combat the impacts of climate change, we have recently introduced the Singapore Green Plan 2030 as part of our national sustainability agenda.
Our Resilient Water Resources
NEWater and desalinated water are not dependent on rainfall, and thus, they are important water sources that can strengthen Singapore’s water security especially in the face of climate change.
While these National Taps are weather-resilient, a lot of energy is required to recycle used water and desalinate seawater. As Singapore’s water demand is projected to almost double by 2060, the energy required to produce water will in turn quadruple if we continue with business-as-usual. Thus, it is important that we continue to ensure that Singapore’s water supply remains resilient and sustainable, especially in the face of climate change.
Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, our fourth and newest desalination plant officially opened in Feb 2021, is Singapore’s first large-scale, dual-mode plant that can treat seawater in dry weather and treat reservoir water from the Marina Reservoir when there is heavy rain. This allows the plant to use energy more efficiently as it uses about two-thirds less energy when treating reservoir water as compared to seawater!
Apart from finding ways to cut down on the emissions for these water treatment facilities, PUB is also constantly researching and leveraging better technology — including tapping on the principles of biomimicry and using big data — to lower costs and energy usage.
As part of PUB’s new three-pronged ‘Replace, Reduce and Remove’ strategy to close the carbon loop to ensure water sustainability, we launched the ‘Carbon Zero Grand Challenge’ to crowdsource for innovative solutions from around the globe that can eliminate carbon emissions from water treatment facilities.
Balancing our water needs
While PUB and the government are doing whatever they can to make Singapore as water resilient as possible, what can citizens like you and I do to help contribute to a more sustainable future?
One simple way is to conserve water where possible! Here’s a quick checklist to make every drop count, which translates to cost-savings as well!
1. Look for WELS! The Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) helps you choose household products that use water efficiently. How efficiently? Well, a 4-tick washing machine can save an estimated 52.5 litres of water per wash!
2. Practice W-A-T-E-R at home!
- Wash clothes on a full load
- Always half-flush when possible
- Turn off the shower when soaping up
- Ensure the tap is off when brushing your teeth (or use a mug!)
- Rinse vegetables in a container
3. Wash dishes with a filled sink or a container! Doing so can save an estimated 28 litres of water.
4. Use a watering can to water your potted plants, instead of a garden hose. You can also collect rainwater to water your plants (or for other non-potable uses).
5. Fix leaks quickly to avoid wasting water. Don’t procrastinate!
Perhaps the best piece of advice from the generation before us can help: “Don’t waste water!”
At the end of the day, remember that every drop counts and every contribution matters, no matter how big or small!
