Business Times 14 Oct 08;
The PUB story of sterling achievements and grand ambitions could be a case study in the education of water managers, reports EMILYN YAP
'IS water the new oil?' That was the question splashed across the cover of BusinessWeek in June. For a prominent business magazine to feature this on its front page, the world has clearly sat up to the importance of water as a resource.
But for more than 40 years, Singapore has already been working fervently on securing its water supply. With the national water agency PUB managing the resource, the country has evolved from a water-scarce nation into one which others now look to for water solutions.
In fact, PUB aims to make Singapore a global hydrohub - a centre of ideas, solutions and technologies for the water industry. 'Perhaps one day, when the world thinks of 'sustainable water solutions for cities', they will think of 'Singapore',' said PUB's CEO Khoo Teng Chye.
With such sterling achievements and grand ambitions, PUB certainly surprises no one for winning the Singapore Quality Award (SQA) this year. The SQA is the top accolade for business excellence, given to organisations with outstanding management capabilities and superior results.
'All of us at PUB are very honoured and delighted to win the SQA on our first application,' said Mr Khoo. 'Winning the SQA this year is indeed a strong testimony of the dedication and commitment of the many PUB staff who have in the past 40 years strived relentlessly to ensure that Singapore has an efficient, adequate and sustainable water supply for now and in the future.'
Underlying Singapore's long-term water sustainability is the Four National Taps strategy. Water from local catchment areas, imported water, reclaimed water and desalinated water form the main sources.
'We have developed new sources of water from the 17 reservoirs in our local catchments like the new Marina Reservoir, our five NEWater factories and our desalination plant,' said Mr Khoo.
According to PUB, Singapore is probably the only country in the world that takes an integrated approach in managing water - from collection, treatment, distribution to reclamation, the entire water cycle is managed as a system.
The SQA will add to the string of awards which PUB has been winning for its work. It clinched the Singapore Innovation Award two years ago and was named Water Agency of the Year by an industry journal Global Water Intelligence in the same year. Last year, it also won the Stockholm Industry Water Award.
'PUB has succeeded in combining all the complex components of a well functioning water management system that has been accepted by the general public, business and industry,' said the award committee chairman, Lars Gunnarsson.
'The PUB story would fit well as a study example in the education of water managers. This is an exemplary model of integrated water management in a framework of good policy and innovative engineering solutions.'
This year has been fruitful for PUB and the SQA win will make it even more memorable. PUB organised the inaugural Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) in June, a week-long event which acted as a platform for the discussion of challenges, solutions and new technologies in the water industry. Deemed a huge success, the event drew over 8,500 participants from 79 countries and facilitated the conclusion of $367 million worth of deals.
In fact, PUB was preparing for both SIWW and the SQA application process at the same time. While the timing was a challenge, 'with support from all PUB staff, both SIWW and the SQA assessment were successfully held', said Mr Khoo.
The first Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize was also given out at the SIWW to Andrew Benedek, chairman and CEO of Zenon Environmental, a GE unit. The award recognised Dr Benedek for his pioneering work in low-pressure membranes for water treatment.
One project PUB is particularly proud of is the Marina Barrage, a dam that forms Singapore's first reservoir in the city. 'It is the best example of our integrated approach to water management,' said Mr Khoo.
As a 'three-in-one' project, the barrage will act as a tidal barrier to prevent flooding, create a reservoir for water supply, and become a water 'piazza' for Singapore's new downtown at Marina Bay. The Marina Barrage won the Asean Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award last year.
'Winning the SQA is recognition that these achievements can be sustained as each organisation has institutionalised the values, structures, systems, and processes to ensure that it keeps improving and innovating to meet the changing needs and challenges of Singapore,' said Mr Khoo.
And through the SQA framework's emphasis on evaluation and improvement, PUB has built systems to constantly review processes to progress and avoid complacency. In addition, 'winning the SQA has boosted staff's morale and encouraged them to remain focused on the goal to achieve the organisation's mission and vision', said Mr Khoo.
The SQA will not spell the end of breakthroughs at PUB. Building on the success of the first SIWW, PUB has already started preparing for the event next year.
Under the theme 'Sustainable Cities - Infrastructure and Technologies for Water', it will feature top-tier delegates and speakers from leading international water companies, utility operators and water agencies. Participants will come from emerging or key markets such as Australia, South Korea, Turkey and the US.
At a time when water scarcity could be a major challenge confronting the world, Singapore has already got a headstart towards achieving self-sufficiency and winning the SQA is one evidence of this for PUB.
