Singapore's 3rd desalination plant will be built at Tuas: MEWR

Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: A third desalination plant will be constructed at Tuas to ensure Singapore’s water supply continues to be resilient, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 11).

In his Committee of Supply 2015 speech, Dr Balakrishnan pointed out the dry weather in recent weeks and the lower-than-average rainfall for January and February are “signals that we must prepare for a future where dry spells may become more prolonged due to climate change”.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) is also exploring the possibility of building more desalination plants to enhance water security and network resilience, he added.

However, Dr Balakrishnan conceded that “infrastructural resilience has its limits”, and said the Government would seek to educate the public on reducing water wastage.

“It is possible for people to change their habits. We have reduced our daily per-capita domestic water consumption from 165 litres per person per day in 2003 to 150.4 litres per person per day today,” he said. “We aim to lower this to 140 litres per person per day by 2030.”

FOSTERING THE RIGHT HABITS

“We need to also develop our people’s resilience. Our water supply cannot be expanded infinitely and we must manage our water demand properly by focusing on water conservation and fostering the right habits in people.”

Additionally, the PUB is exploring the use of underground space for water infrastructure, and is working closely with large water users to push the boundaries on industrial water efficiency, said Dr Balakrishnan.

PUB LOOKING INTO UNDERGROUND SPACES FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

National water agency PUB will be calling a tender for consultancy services to study the technical and economic feasibility of using underground spaces for the future redevelopment of its Kranji water reclamation plant and NEWater factory, it announced in a media release on Wednesday.

The consultancy study will look into different plant design options for the Kranji plant and the NEWater factory, so land can be used optimally – as compared to exiting water reclamation plants. This can be done through constructing higher buildings, deeper basements, or the use of underground rock caverns, said PUB. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

PUB also noted that the relocation of utilities infrastructure could free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground.

- CNA/ct/dl

Laws to reduce water use during drought could be in the pipeline: Balakrishnan
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Washing of cars and pavements, as well as the watering of lawns, could become offences in times of severe drought.

The Government is considering changes to the Public Utilities Act to impose water restrictions during periods of severe drought, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (March 11), during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Water consumption went up during the dry spell last February despite reminders to conserve the resource. But the authorities did not have to resort to water rationing because of water infrastructure — such as water recycling and desalination plants — built over the years, he said.

Singapore has also experienced dry weather in the first two months of this year, and Dr Balakrishnan said the plants are running at 70 per cent capacity, resulting in higher water levels at the reservoirs than they would otherwise be.

More facilities will be built to cater to water needs: A third desalination plant will be built in Tuas, and more will be built in other parts of Singapore, he said.

To ensure the infrastructure does not take up land that could be used for other purposes, he said underground space could be used. National water agency PUB will call a tender for consultancy services to study the feasibility of using underground space, including rock caverns, for the future redevelopment of its Kranji Water Recalamation Plant and NEWater factory.

Singapore Budget 2015: PUB to study underground spaces for water infrastructure
FENG ZENGKUN Straits Times 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE - Singapore will be looking underground for new places to store its water infrastructure, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday.

National water agency PUB is also calling a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, such as rock caverns, for the redevelopment of its Kranji water reclamation plant and Newater Factory.

The plant and factory are expected to be redeveloped and expanded around the year 2030, as part of the integrated used water system consisting of the Changi, Tuas and Kranji water reclamation plants in east, west and north Singapore respectively.

"Currently, Singapore's water reclamation plants are built on surface land. With a limited land area of about 718 sq km, Singapore is continuously challenged to come up with innovate and practical solutions to create new spaces," said PUB.

"The relocation of utilities infrastructure underground has the potential to free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground," it added.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by 2016, and will look at the challenges of constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern. These include the need for back-up systems for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems.

Designs to cope with potential floods or fires will also need to be put in place.

Govt eyes limits on water use in severe drought
PUB considering underground space for plants, other facilities to cater to S’pore’s water needs
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 12 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Washing of cars and pavements, as well as the watering of lawns, could become offences in times of severe drought.

The Government is considering changes to the Public Utilities Act to impose water restrictions during severe drought, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Water consumption went up during the dry spell in February last year despite reminders to conserve the resource. But the authorities did not have to resort to water rationing because of infrastructure, such as water recycling and desalination plants, built over the years, he said.

“Whilst I don’t envisage the need for water rationing, I do need to put people on notice that if the dry spell or drought is prolonged, we will have to impose water restrictions and to impose (them) through subsidiary legislation,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

“In addition, we’ll also study whether we need to further refine the current legislative framework to give legal effect to water restrictions. So what this means is during prolonged dry spells, we make it illegal to use water to wash the cars, or to use it on pavements or use it to water grass and lawns.”

Singapore has experienced dry weather in the first two months of this year, and Dr Balakrishnan said the plants are running at 70 per cent capacity, resulting in higher water levels at reservoirs than there would be otherwise.

More facilities will be built to cater to water needs: A third desalination plant will be built in Tuas, he said.

Underground space could be used to free up surface land for other uses, he said. National water agency PUB announced yesterday it will call a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, including rock caverns, for the future redevelopment of its Kranji Water Reclamation Plant and NEWater factory.

The facility is due for redevelopment and expansion around 2030, PUB said. The 18-month consultancy study, expected to be completed by the end of next year, will look into design options for the plant and factory, such as the building of higher storeys, deeper basements and the usage of underground rock caverns.

Singapore’s water reclamation plants are currently built on surface land, with treatment process units housed in buildings above ground. Basements extend up to 70m below ground. NEWater factories have in recent years been housed on the rooftop of water reclamation plants to facilitate large-scale water recycling, such as in Changi and the upcoming one in Tuas.

PUB said challenges in constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern include safety and ventilation requirements. Back-up systems are needed for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems. The impact of potential floods or fires must also be mitigated.

“There needs to be careful assessment as we evaluate the impact of going underground and determine the most optimal options,” said PUB’s director of policy and planning William Yeo.

Alongside these efforts, the Government aims to reduce per capita daily domestic water consumption from 150.4 litres today, to 140 litres by 2030. The domestic sector accounts for 45 per cent of Singapore’s total water use of about 400 million gallons a day.

Third desalination plant to be built
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 12 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE will build a desalination plant in Tuas to treat more seawater, to meet the country's growing water needs.

Announcing this yesterday in Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the new plant will also help to tide Singapore over dry spells.

He noted that Singapore had experienced dry spells last year as well as reduced rain this year. "We need to prepare for periods of drought and dry spells in future," he said. Singapore currently uses about 400 million gallons of water a day, but this could almost double by the year 2060.

The new desalination plant will be the third in the country when it is completed in 2017.

With it, Singapore will be able to produce up to 130 million gallons of water a day from seawater, up from the current maximum of 100 million gallons a day. The Government is considering building more desalination plants.

Desalinated water, or treated seawater, now meets up to 25 per cent of current water demand and is expected to continue to meet up to 25 per cent of demand by 2060.

Newater, which is treated used water, is slated to meet up to 55 per cent of Singapore's water demand by 2060, up from as much as 30 per cent now.

Singapore's two other national taps are treated rainwater and water imported from Malaysia, but the agreement with Malaysia will expire in 2061.

Dr Balakrishnan noted, however, that Singapore's water supply cannot be expanded infinitely, so Singaporeans should help to conserve water.

The Government may have to impose water restrictions during prolonged dry spells and droughts, such as making it illegal for people to use water to wash cars, so it is now studying whether it needs to refine existing legislation, he added.

Separately, national water agency PUB is calling a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, such as rock caverns, for the redevelopment of its water reclamation plant and Newater factory in Kranji.

The plant and factory are expected to be redeveloped and expanded around the year 2030, as part of the integrated used water system consisting of the Changi, Tuas and Kranji water reclamation plants in east, west and north Singapore respectively.

"The relocation of utilities infrastructure underground has the potential to free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground," PUB said.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by next year, and will look at the challenges of constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern.

These include the need for back-up systems for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems. Designs to cope with potential floods or fires will also be needed.