Water won't put limit on S'pore's growth
By Adrian Lim
My Paper
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013
Singapore will be "water independent" well before the expiry of the last water agreement with Malaysia, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.
He added that water will not be a limiting factor in the country's population and housing growth, and that there will be more than enough for the long term.
Giving an update on Singapore's water resources during the Committee of Supply (COS) debate on the Budget, Dr Balakrishnan said the country is in a "secure position" because of its four national taps: water from local catchments, imported water, recycled water (Newater) and desalinated water.
Singapore currently has one remaining agreement with Malaysia to supply water from across the Causeway. The agreement will expire in 2061.
Dr Balakrishnan said yesterday that the second desalination plant in Tuas will be completed in July. The facility will be able to produce 70 million gallons of water a day.
In the long run, desalination is expected to meet up to 25 per cent of Singapore's total water demands, he added.
Phase two of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) will commence soon, Dr Balakrishnan said.
This super highway for used water will channel water from the western parts of the island to a new reclamation plant in Tuas, which will produce Newater in the future. The first phase of the $3.65-billion DTSS was completed in 2008. It comprises a 48km tunnel running from Kranji to Changi, and a centralised water-reclamation plant in Changi.
Dr Balakrishnan noted that water should be correctly priced to reflect its scarcity value, and that pricing needs to facilitate long-term investments in this sector.
However, he added that water prices will not be raised this year.
[email protected]
By Adrian Lim
My Paper
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013
Singapore will be "water independent" well before the expiry of the last water agreement with Malaysia, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.
He added that water will not be a limiting factor in the country's population and housing growth, and that there will be more than enough for the long term.
Giving an update on Singapore's water resources during the Committee of Supply (COS) debate on the Budget, Dr Balakrishnan said the country is in a "secure position" because of its four national taps: water from local catchments, imported water, recycled water (Newater) and desalinated water.
Singapore currently has one remaining agreement with Malaysia to supply water from across the Causeway. The agreement will expire in 2061.
Dr Balakrishnan said yesterday that the second desalination plant in Tuas will be completed in July. The facility will be able to produce 70 million gallons of water a day.
In the long run, desalination is expected to meet up to 25 per cent of Singapore's total water demands, he added.
Phase two of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) will commence soon, Dr Balakrishnan said.
This super highway for used water will channel water from the western parts of the island to a new reclamation plant in Tuas, which will produce Newater in the future. The first phase of the $3.65-billion DTSS was completed in 2008. It comprises a 48km tunnel running from Kranji to Changi, and a centralised water-reclamation plant in Changi.
Dr Balakrishnan noted that water should be correctly priced to reflect its scarcity value, and that pricing needs to facilitate long-term investments in this sector.
However, he added that water prices will not be raised this year.
[email protected]