Singapore has no natural lakes or major rivers, yet it has probably the most developed urban water systems on the planet.
The country’s total area is roughly 735 square kilometers, making it difficult to store freshwater on a big scale. After independence in 1965, Singapore was heavily depending on imported water from Malaysia.
Under the 1962 Johor-Singapore Water Agreement, which allowed Singapore to import as much as 250 million gallons of raw water per day from Johor. This agreement stays certainly one of the cornerstones of Singapore’s water supply system.
Why water has change into a national priority
At independence, Singapore had limited freshwater catchments and a rapidly growing population.
Singapore’s dependence on imported water has been formalized through two major agreements with Johor. The first agreement was signed in 1927 between the British-controlled Singapore Municipality and the Sultanate of Johor, while the second was signed in 1962 and is valid until 2061.
According to Singapore’s national water agency, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), ensuring water security became a top national priority within the late twentieth century. Over time, Singapore has expanded its water storage infrastructure, converting urban waterways into reservoirs and constructing dams in estuaries.
Four national taps
Singapore’s water supply system is predicated on a strategic framework known by the federal government because the Four National Taps.
It includes water from local catchments, imported water, NEWater water (prime quality reclaimed water) and desalinated water. This multi-faceted approach was introduced to diversify the country’s water sources and significantly reduce its dependence on foreign imports.
These 4 different sources together meet Singapore’s current every day water demand of roughly 430 million gallons (1.63 billion liters), a figure expected to almost double by 2060, based on PUB.
How NEWater modified Singapore’s delivery
NEWater was launched in 2003 as a large-scale water recycling program in Singapore.
It uses advanced membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection to treat used water into ultra-pure water.
According to PUB, NEWater currently meets as much as 40% of Singapore’s total water demand.
This percentage is predicted to extend to 55% by 2060. Most of the NEW water is supplied to industrial users, and a few is added to reservoirs for indirect use in drinking water.
NEWater has reduced Singapore’s dependence on imported water and increased domestic supply capability.
Desalination and expansion of the reservoir
As a part of its long-term planning, Singapore has also increased its desalination capability.
The first desalination plant opened in 2005. There are actually many desalination plants in Singapore that may meet as much as 30% of the country’s water demand. By 2060, desalination is predicted to account for roughly 30% of total supply.
The country has also built 17 reservoirs, including the Marina Reservoir, created after the completion of the Marina Barrage in 2008. The Marina Barrage transformed a part of Marina Bay right into a freshwater reservoir, increasing urban water storage capability in central Singapore.
Reducing imported water
Singapore’s long-term strategy has reduced its dependence on imported water.
By combining reservoirs, recycled water and desalination, Singapore has significantly increased domestic production capability over the past twenty years.
Over the next many years, Singapore aggressively expanded its domestic water withdrawals by damming rivers, constructing reservoirs, and optimizing urban drainage. These efforts have increased the country’s river basin area from a limited amount of land within the Sixties to greater than two-thirds of its total territory.
Today, despite its lack of natural lakes, Singapore has a highly diversified water system based on local collection, recycled supplies, desalination and imports.
