Ways to solve water shortage problem and their outcomes

The gravity of the water shortage situation is forcing an evaluation of other conservation measures.

Households account for 55 percent of Singapore's water consumption and the flushing of toilets is a major culprit: Proposals for reducing water consumption include switching to smaller water cisterns and using industrial water for flushing.

Alternative sources of fresh water must be found. Building more reservoirs isn't possible in land-scarce Singapore and damming the sea between islands wouldn't provide a big enough catchment area for rainfall. Two other ideas being considered by the authorities are importing water from Indonesia and desalinating sea water.

Tapping Indonesia as a future water source would be an extension of Singapore's tradition of relying on its neighbours. In 1991, Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia that would allow it to draw up to 1,000mgd of water from Bintan island in the Riau archipelago and from the Kampar river in Sumatra. While the potential supply is huge, the cost of the infrastructure to transport the water to Singapore will be enormous. On a cubic metre basis, it could multiply the current cost of water by five to eight times.

Desalination appears attractive given Singapore's limitless supply of sea water, but it consumes vast amounts of energy. Preliminary estimates based on current fuel costs suggest that desalinated water could cost seven to eight times more than current supplies.

A joint PUB/MTI team has visited desalination plants in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malta to examine the feasibility of desalination, but a report isn't expected for at least 18 months. If favourable, PUB officials are talking about having a pilot desalination plant ready six to seven years after that.

In just four decades, Singapore has overcome water shortages despite its lack of natural water resources, flooding and pollution in its rivers in the 1960s and 1970s.

Driven by a vision of what it takes to be sustainable in water, Singapore has been investing in research and technology. Today, the nation has built a robust, diversified and sustainable water supply from four different sources known as the Four National Taps (water from local catchment areas, imported water, reclaimed water known as NEWater and desalinated water).
By integrating the system and maximising the efficiency of each of the four taps, Singapore has ensured a stable, sustainable water supply capable of catering to the country’s continued growth.
One of these Taps is the high-grade reclaimed water known as NEWater, a success story made possible by state-of-the-art membrane technologies. Such new technologies are a potential goldmine. The Singapore government has identified water as a new growth sector and will invest about S$330 million in water R&D in the next five years.

Besides its strategic role, water is beautifying Singapore’s landscape and improving Singaporeans’ quality of life. By involving people as stakeholders of the country’s water resources, we are moving closer to realising the vision of Singapore as a City of Gardens and Water.