Singapores water ambition - to be self-sufficient by 2061
The long standing feud between Malaysia and Singapore over the water issue remains a sore point in bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
So it is understandable and necessary on Singapore's part to embark on its water ambition so that it would not be overly dependent on Malaysia for supply.
Yesterday, Singapore's Environment Minister Lim Swee Say proudly declared that the island nation can be self-sufficient in water by 2061 when the second of the two water agreements with Malaysia expires.
"Singaporeans don't need to worry about whether we'll have enough drinking water in the future," Lim said.
According to a Straits Times report, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) had enlarged water catchment areas in Singapore, planned more Newater plants, and awarded a contract for the
supply of desalinated sea water, even before the earlier of Singapore's two water agreements with Malaysia expires.
"Well before 2011, we'll be able to produce more than enough water to replace the volume of water imported in the first agreement from Malaysia," Lim added.
By 2012, two-thirds of the island will be water catchment areas, up from the current half.
The long standing feud between Malaysia and Singapore over the water issue remains a sore point in bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
So it is understandable and necessary on Singapore's part to embark on its water ambition so that it would not be overly dependent on Malaysia for supply.
Yesterday, Singapore's Environment Minister Lim Swee Say proudly declared that the island nation can be self-sufficient in water by 2061 when the second of the two water agreements with Malaysia expires.
"Singaporeans don't need to worry about whether we'll have enough drinking water in the future," Lim said.
According to a Straits Times report, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) had enlarged water catchment areas in Singapore, planned more Newater plants, and awarded a contract for the
supply of desalinated sea water, even before the earlier of Singapore's two water agreements with Malaysia expires.
"Well before 2011, we'll be able to produce more than enough water to replace the volume of water imported in the first agreement from Malaysia," Lim added.
By 2012, two-thirds of the island will be water catchment areas, up from the current half.
Cleaner water
Lim said Newater, which is being used by industries now, will be pumped into reservoirs by the end of the month. Newater, reclaimed through micro-filtration, was cleaner than PUB water and costs 50 to 60 per cent less to produce than treating sea water, he added.
Over the next 10 years, it will make up 2.5 per cent of the water used here, or 2 1/2 times what it is now. Between 2011 and 2061, when the second water agreement expires, PUB will continue to increase catchment areas and supply from desalination and Newater, the paper reported.
"Depending on technological advances, these three have the potential to meet our long-term water demands. This means that Singapore can be self-sufficient post-2061 if we need to be," said Lim.
Already, nearly half the water used here comes from water catchment areas within the country; the rest is piped in from Johor, he added.
