There’s enough water for Singapore for now, but ...

Climate change, population increase likely challenges to Singapore’s water supply: WHO
Nazry Bahrawi, Today Online 23 Jun 08;

EVEN AS they commended Singapore’s exceptional water management system, international water quality experts — part of a high-level World Health Organisation (WHO) panel — yesterday cautioned against the dangers of complacency.

In particular, red flags were raised over two issues that could possibly threaten our water supply, namely, climate change and population increase.

This, despite the fact that water-scarce Singapore has a “four tap” strategy to diversify its water source as a means of weaning its dependence on Malaysia as its primary water supplier.

The four taps: On top ofimporting water from Malaysia, the other measures includerecycling sewage water to produce NEWater, rainwater collected in local catchment areas and desalination of seawater.

According to one professional estimate, Malaysia supplies about 40 per cent of Singapore’s water.

“The biggest challenge for Singapore is the uncertainty surrounding climate change,” said Mr John Fawell, a British independent consultant on water quality and one of about 25 panellists on the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality team.

He added: “It is difficult to predict even a little way in advance exactly what is going to happen to the weather. It is okay today, but it may not be okay tomorrow.”

Global warming — a phenomenon, which most scientists agree is man-made — can greatly reduce the supply of water for human use.

Singapore’s representative on the WHO panel, Professor Ong Choon Nam, director of :the National University of Singapore’s Life Sciences Institute, said: “When global warming become more serious, you have to prepare and take some precaution in terms of changes that could happen.”

At a high-powered international security meeting in Singapore :in June last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted climate change as a potential security threat :for the first time.

On climate change, Mr Lee had said: “Between countries, competition for scarce resources and displacement of populations across borders can deepen tensions, and provoke conflict and wars.”

But another WHO panel expert, Dr Joseph A Cotruvo from the United States, believes that more than climate change, Singapore needs to manage its population increase well.

“Unless it stops raining here– and I think it is not likely to – I don’t think climate change is as much of an issue as :population increase, and water demand increase that goes with it,” he told reporters yesterday.

Singapore, which has opened its doors to foreign talents to help boost economic development -- envisages a future scenario in which the population could be increased by about another two million to 6.5 million.

But the experts also agree that despite the perceived threats, Singapore is “ahead of the game”.

“You have plans to anticipate the future. That is the best situation to be in,” said Dr Cotruvo.

It is this very ability of planning ahead that has led the WHO to embrace Singapore as its partner in helping other nations in terms of water management.

Last August in Stockholm, Sweden, the WHO and Singapore’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources signed a cooperation agreement to jointly promote the safe management of drinking water globally.

The panel discussion is part of the Singapore International Water Week, which kicks off today, that will see the Republic playing host to more than 20 international high-level meetings, forums, award ceremonies and workshops.