Singapore's NEWater...

Singapore is comprised of 63 small islands and has a natural, rainforest climate. Actually, nearly a quarter of Singapore’s land area consists of forests and nature preserves. The country averages more than 90 inches of rainfall every year. However, despite what appears to be a flourishing wet ecosystem and an abundance of annual rainfall, Singapore has faced persistent water shortages throughout its history.

Faced with these water shortages in the year 1974, Singapore began a program of water recycling, which is the action of transforming wastewater into clean potable freshwater. Despite its attractiveness, this experimental treatment plant was closed just a year later when cost and reliability issues proved too problematic to overcome.

In the year 1998, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore inaugurated a water reclamation study. The aim of this study was to determine whether recycled water and desalination could be viable options to meet the country’s long-term water needs, and whether they would help further reduce Singapore’s reliance on imported water from Malaysia, which had been a source of friction over the years.

This study revealed the promise and potential of recycled potable water. The reclaimed water was given the brand name “NEWater.” NEWater is purified using dual-membrane and ultraviolet technologies in addition to conventional water treatment processes. The water is considered safe for human consumption because of it being a high-grade reclaimed water.

It is produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink.

Developed by PUB after three decades, NEWater has passed more than 65,000 scientific tests and surpasses World Health Organisation requirements, a testimony of its high quality and reliability.

NEWater is living proof that using today's water treatment technologies, water of any quality can be treated into drinking water. This ambitious and innovative solution has put Singapore on the world map for state-of-the-art water management, including winning for PUB the Stockholm Industry Water Award in 2007.

The first NEWater plants were opened in Bedok and Kranji in 2003. The latest and largest NEWater plant at Changi with a capacity of 50mgd was opened in May 2010. Currently, NEWater meets 30% of the nation’s water needs. A small percentage of NEWater is also blended with raw water in the reservoir. The raw water from the reservoir then goes through treatment at the waterworks before it is supplied to consumers as tap water.

By 2060, Singapore plans to triple the current NEWater capacity so that NEWater can meet 50% of their future water demand.

Although NEWater is potable, it is mostly used for industrial processes. Supplied to wafer fabrication, electronics and power generation industries for process use, it is also piped to commercial and institutional buildings for air conditioning cooling purposes. This frees up potable water for domestic consumption. It is delivered via a separate distribution network to industrial and commercial customers.

This, however, will change as water shortages continue and water demand continues increasing.