Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times 27 Apr 10;
SINGAPORE will not be renewing the first of its two water agreements with Malaysia when it expires next year.
The reason: Extra reservoirs and another Newater plant being built can increase supply to meet the country's needs, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said yesterday.
He was replying to Nominated MP Mildred Tan who had asked whether the expiry of the first water agreement next year will lead to higher water tariffs in future and what steps Singapore has taken to become more self-sufficient in water.
Over the years, supply has been bolstered with more Newater plants, new reservoirs and desalinated water, Dr Yaacob noted. 'With these new sources, we have diversified our water supply and built up a robust system.' He added that, as a result, there is no need to renew the first water agreement with Malaysia. Under the agreement, signed in 1961, Singapore will buy water from Malaysia at three sen for every 1,000 gallons for 50 years.
Singapore aims to be self-sufficient in water by 2061 when its second water agreement with Malaysia expires. This agreement, signed in 1962, allows it to buy more water at the same price.
Dr Yaacob said Newater supply is expected to meet 30 per cent of Singapore's water needs when the fifth and largest Newater plant in Changi is completed later this year. It will produce up to 50 million gallons of ultra-clean reclaimed water daily - enough to fill 94 Olympic-size swimming pools. Also, the desalination plant in Tuas can meet 10 per cent of Singapore's needs.
Noting that both of these sources do not rely on rainfall, Dr Yaacob said: 'They can be used to supplement local water stocks in an extended dry spell like the one experienced in February this year, the driest February on record.'
A second desalination plant will be built in the next few years to 'further enhance the drought resilience of our water supply and ensure reliability for Singapore's water users,' he added.
The new reservoirs that will be ready next year are in Marina, Punggol and Serangoon. They are expected to increase Singapore's water catchment area from half to two-thirds of its total land area.
However, all these new methods of producing water may result in higher water tariffs in future, said Dr Yaacob. 'Water tariffs need to be reviewed from time to time to reflect the higher costs of producing water from these newer sources and other general cost increases.'
But he assured the House the Government will study any proposal to revise water tariffs.
Singapore will not renew one water agreement with Malaysia which expires next year
Lynda Hong Channel NewsAsia 26 Apr 10;
SINGAPORE: Singapore will not need to renew one water agreement with Malaysia which expires next year.
That's because Singapore has ramped up with local water supply with new reservoirs, NEWater and desalinated water.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said Singapore will build a second desalination plant over the next few years to ensure reliability in water supply.
Environment & Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said: "As the production of NEWater and desalinated water are independent of rainfall, they can be used to supplement water stocks in an extended dry spell like the one experienced in February this year, which was the driest February on record." - CNA/vm
Water-sufficiency plan on track
Low Wei Xiang, My Paper 27 Apr 10;
SINGAPORE will not renew one of the two water agreements with Malaysia that will expire next year.
Key developments scheduled for completion over the next few years will supplement Singapore's water supply, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said in Parliament yesterday.
The new reservoirs, a watertreatment plant and a desalination will ensure the country's thirst for water will be sufficiently met, he said.
New reservoirs in Marina, Punggol and Serangoon, when completed next year, will expand the water catchment from half to two thirds of Singapore's land area.
The three reservoirs will supply about 15 per cent of the country's water needs, taking the reservoir
count to 17.
A new $2.2-billion Newater plant in Changi will add 800,000 cu m to Singapore's daily water supply.
When ready later this year, the water-treatment facility, plus four existing plants, will double Newater capacity to cater to a third of the nation's water needs.
Work has also begun last on the country's second desalination plant that will make seawater potable.
Expected to take about 20 more months to complete, the Jurong Island plant will produce 182,000 cu m of water daily for factories in the area.
The first desalination plant, located in Tuas and completed in 2005, meets about 10 per cent of Singapore's water needs.
"As the production of Newater and desalinated water is independent of rainfall, they can supplement local water stocks in an extended dry spell like the one experienced in February," said Dr Yaacob.
As it costs more to produce water from these newer sources, water tariffs will be reviewed to factor in the costs.
However, the Government will revise "particularly its impact on low-income households", he said.
The first water agreement, signed in 1961, allows Singapore to buy water from Malaysia at RM0.03 for every 1,000 gallons until next year.
In 1962, Singapore signed a second water agreement to buy more water from Malaysia at the same price. This agreement will expire in 2061, the year Singapore aims to be self-sufficient in water.
The country currently imports 40 per cent of its water from its neighbour under the two agreements.
