Dry spell drives home need for water solutions

Chua Chin Wei and Simon Tay Today Online 21 Mar 14;

The drought suffered by Singapore has now been punctuated by on-and-off rainstorms. But while these have brought welcome relief, there is no guarantee that prolonged dry spells will not recur in future. Water supply is under stress across the world and Singapore is no exception.

Climate change, extreme weather events, water scarcity and pollution are real issues impacting on water supply. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report has identified water crises as one of the world’s top three risks this year. Signs are evident across different countries and regions, affecting both rich and poor.

Whether it is California, Brazil or Queensland in Australia, all are facing their worst drought in decades. In Brazil’s case, more than 120 cities are under water rationing, despite the fact that the country is estimated to hold more than 10 per cent of the global freshwater supply.

In Malaysia, after a two-month dry spell, a third phase of water rationing has been announced. It will affect more than 3.6 million people.

As we mark World Water Day tomorrow, given recent events, the overall situation bears review. While there is sufficient supply in Singapore, under current conditions, this cannot be taken for granted. Moreover, while the government has invested in technology and infrastructure, companies and citizens can and must do more.

TECHNOLOGY NOT ENOUGH

Countries are searching for solutions, and more have begun to recognise the merits of water recycling to increase water security. This is technically possible, as Singapore had shown by introducing NEWater in 2002. Questions on costs and perceptions of acceptability are now shifting.

In Australia, a key element in South East Queensland’s urban drought initiative is a recycled water project along the state’s western corridor. This is the country’s largest recycled water scheme and aims to reduce the dependency on sources that would be vulnerable to climate change.

In California, the Orange County Water District has long used recycling to weather the dry conditions better than other regions in the state. Its Groundwater Replenishment System treats and purifies used water to produce drinking water. Orange County provided an early model for Singapore and, this year, its pioneering work won the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.

This approach is now emulated in Australia, as well as in other American states, such as Colorado and Texas.

Yet, recycling can only be part of the solution. Significant investments must be made for a diversified portfolio of water sources. For Singapore, local catchment and reservoirs remain important, as does water pumped in from Malaysia under a long-standing agreement between the two countries. To make Singapore’s water supply more robust, additional new efforts have been made for recycled NEWater and desalinated supply, drawn from the sea.

These new sources of water are more resilient and less dependent on rain. During the recent dry period, desalination and NEWater plants had run at close to full capacity. Indeed, with the fall in water levels at reservoirs, the drought would have been worse if NEWater had not been used to top up and maintain the water stock.

Today, these new sources can meet up to 55 per cent of Singapore’s water needs, and more investment can be expected in the future. Yet, NEWater and desalination are not without costs and constraints.

Energy is a critical element and major cost in their production. And since Singapore does not have its own sources of energy, production depends ultimately on the supply of gas or other fuel from elsewhere. Even with the best current technology, we cannot indefinitely and infinitely increase the supply of water.

MANAGING DEMAND FOR WATER

Therefore, we need to better manage the demand for water. Fundamentally, Singaporeans need to be reminded that water is a precious resource. This is a slogan from the country’s early years and Singaporeans of that generation will remember water rationing.

However, recent years of plenty may have lulled us into complacency. Notably, during this spell of drought and haze, household water consumption went up. Some of this usage is essential but others may seem frivolous, such as the plan to hold a Songkran or water festival next month in Singapore, even though this is not our custom.

Singaporeans and residents need to take ownership in water conservation and change consumption habits. Currently, supplies remain adequate and water rationing is unnecessary. But exercises in rationing might be important to drive home the message anew.

Such exercises could start in schools to expose younger generations to the issue. It could also be carried out systematically across different constituencies, one at a time, to make the point clearer, while avoiding mass disruption. The lesson would be to not take things for granted, and would make people more aware and robust, in case of an emergency.

These exercises must aim to help develop a common understanding about sufficiency and sustainability. We hope the Singaporean “kiasu” instinct would not kick in, causing people to stock water excessively in bathtubs and buckets, which would create unnecessary wastage and potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Rationing exercises must be carried out in tandem with the promotion of better consumption habits.

Per capita water consumption in Singaporean households has been steadily decreasing, from 165 litres a day in 2003 to the current 151 litres. We can, however, definitely do more. Improving water conservation can be spurred by simple common-sense efforts, such as not leaving the tap running unnecessarily, using water-efficient appliances and fittings, or timing our showers.

Companies can also do their part as responsible corporate citizens. More than 200 companies and organisations that took part in the PUB’s 10% Challenge have successfully managed to reduce their water usage by 10 per cent in the past four years. Wafer fabrication plants have also taken steps to stem their thirst.

So have developers when designing our buildings. For example, City Developments Limited has successfully cut down its water usage by using rainwater to test waterproofing in newly-built toilets. At construction sites, underground water storage tanks are used to collect rainwater, which is then used for miscellaneous purposes such as watering plants or hosing down muddy truck tyres.

Such efforts are commendable. While this extended dry spell is still on people’s minds, the public should be encouraged to do their part to conserve this precious resource and cut down water consumption for years to come.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Chua Chin Wei is Deputy Director and Coordinator for sustainable resources at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Simon Tay is SIIA Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, a non-profit network across the region.