Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 7 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE: Singapore's national water agency PUB said on Friday it is reviewing its contingency plans in case Singapore's water consumption increases further.
PUB’s chief executive Chew Men Leong said this to reporters on the sidelines of the opening of PUB's demonstration plant that treats and recycles used industrial water.
He said the focus now is to ensure that all stakeholders, including individuals, households and businesses, do their part to save water.
Mr Chew also acknowledged the role of NEWater and desalination plants in meeting Singapore's water needs.
He said: "The NEWater and desalination (plants) have given us a bigger safety margin, and we are also investing in new technologies and new capabilities to actually see how we can expand these two sources of water."
- CNA/gn
Water usage up, but no need for rationing for now: Balakrishnan
Imelda Saad Channel NewsAsia 7 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE: Singapore's water consumption has gone up by about 5 per cent, during this dry spell.
The average total water demand in Singpaore is 400 million gallons a day -- current figures show a demand of 420 million gallons a day.
If demand increases, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said he will have to "re-evaluate the adequacy of current plans." For now, he said there is no need for water rationing in Singapore, if a lid is kept on demand and consumption.
He made this point in Parliament on Friday to a question on the country's water resilience.
Dr Balakrishnan said there will be "no operational need for rationing" in the foreseeable future.
He said: "From our latest water demand figures, we are currently consuming about 420 million gallons a day. Now if the demand figure continues to increase then certainly, I will have to re-evaluate the adequacy of our current plans."
Singapore has been experiencing a dry spell since January.
There has been concern about the possibility of a water rationing exercise.
So far, desalination and NEWater sources have helped.
Dr Balakrishnan said they are a reminder today that Singapore can be resilient against a dry spell.
The PUB has stepped up desalination to full capacity of 100 million gallons a day.
NEWater production has also been raised to more than 100 million gallons a day, for industrial use and to top up the country's reservoirs by 35 million gallons a day.
Dr Balakrishnan said that is why Singapore is able to "keep the reservoir stock at a healthy level despite the lack of rain".
He said: "It's sobering to bear in mind that all this additional capacity has only come about in the last decade. In fact, the most recent desalination plant which added 70 million gallons a day only came online six months ago."
He added imported water remains an essential part of the country's water supply.
Dr Balakrishnan also pointed to Singapore's S$300-million investment in the Johor River Linggui Dam project.
This has enabled the river to increase its yield and allow both Singapore and Malaysia to draw water from it even during dry weather.
He said: "All these additional investments have been a premium that we have paid for greater security and diversity of our water supply.”
To further raise public awareness, Dr Balakrishnan says he is seriously considering a water rationing exercise - as a rehearsal - so Singaporeans know what to do during an actual event.
- CNA/xq/ac
Water rationing not needed yet, but drills may be held
Balakrishnan ‘seriously’ considering suggestion as form of public education
Siau Ming En Today Online 8 Mar 14;
SINGAPORE — Water consumption in the Republic has gone up by 5 per cent during the current dry spell and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament he is seriously considering a suggestion to conduct water-rationing exercises as a means of public education, even though they are not an operational necessity.
Currently, Singapore is consuming 420 million gallons of water a day (mgd), an increase from the average of 400mgd. The rise in usage came from both the domestic and non-domestic sectors, said national water agency PUB in response to media queries.
While investments in NEWater and desalination have diversified the nation’s water-supply sources and strengthened water security, Dr Balakrishnan said this margin of safety also carries a risk of complacency if water usage rises during a dry spell.
“In fact, it has gone up,” he added. “From our latest water-demand figures, we are currently consuming about 420mgd of water a day. Now, if the demand figure continues to increase then, certainly, I will have to re-evaluate the adequacy of our current plans.”
Dr Balakrishnan made these remarks as he responded to a supplementary question posed by Jurong GRC Member of Parliament David Ong, who asked at what point would the minister deem it necessary for Singapore to start conducting water-rationing exercises, which were last seen in the 1960s.
Dr Balakrishnan said he had received feedback from the public that he should consider conducting some exercises as a form of public education, even if there is no operational need for one.
“This is a suggestion I am taking seriously to remind people of the value of water,” he added.
“I also think it may not be a bad idea for us to rehearse the procedures and processes that are needed, if we ever get to the point where water rationing is needed. So, I am looking at it right now more as a public communications tool. Fortunately, we are not at a point where this is an operational necessity.”
Earlier, the minister told Parliament that the PUB had stepped up desalination and increased NEWater production, with the latter being used to top up reservoirs, keeping reservoir stocks at a “healthy level” despite the lack of rain. These two sources of water supplement other sources from the local catchment areas and imported water from Johor, he said.
Dr Balakrishnan reiterated the need for all parties, such as town councils, the management teams for condominiums and private areas as well as commercial and industrial buildings, to play their part in water conservation. In addition, the ministry will be announcing other measures to encourage longer-term water conservation efforts in the non-domestic sector during its Committee of Supply debate next week.
“I still think most of us are not aware that (with) each minute of leaving the shower on, nine litres of water (are consumed),” he said. “Similarly, making sure that we wash clothes only when the machine is full, in order to optimise economies of scale, or wash dishes in a container rather than leave taps running — all these little measures add up and can save a significant amount of water for us.”
