Summary Reader Response Draft 2

 

In the article “Singapore’s Water Story” from the Public Utilities Board’s (PUB) website (2020), PUB mentions how Singapore plans to manage a future increase in water demand. Currently, the total water demand amounts to 430 million gallons per day and is expected to double by 2060. There are three main strategies implemented which are to “collect every drop of water”, “reuse water endlessly” and “desalinate seawater”. Considering Singapore’s water agreement with Malaysia is set to expire in 2061, Singapore plans to have independent water sources through local water catchments, NEWater plants, and desalination plants. By focusing on the development and improvement of these methods, PUB explains that these water sources are estimated to meet up to 85% of the increase in water demand in 2060. As water demand continues to rise concurrently with population and economic growth, a well-planned and implemented water infrastructure ensures a sustainable water supply will be available for future generations.

From the article, Singapore’s efforts in planning to secure an adequate water supply to meet the rising demand is a great effort by the government. However, the challenges that can potentially arise from these methods were not mentioned. Although the current efforts will be able to meet 85% of the future water demand, more should be done so that Singapore has a fully independent water infrastructure.

Firstly, Singapore has been heavily reliant on imported water bought from Malaysia since 1961. This agreement will expire in 2061 and Singapore has to be prepared to look for different sources of water. An article published by the Channel News Asia (CNA) (2018) mentioned that Johor’s Linggiu Reservoir is drying up with dangers of “prolonged, dry weather”. With potential uncertainties, Singapore has been focusing on its local water supplies – NEWater, desalination plants and local water catchments. These three national taps may be less cost effective due to the intensive energy required to treat the water, but it allows Singapore to be independent and confident in meeting the rising water demands in the near future.

As mentioned, NEWater and desalination plants uses energy-intensive processes to treat used or sea water and turn it into clean, potable water. Although Singapore is moving towards securing independent water sources, Singapore will be ever-more reliant on energy consumption to meet their water goals. Biswas (n.d.) mentions that “100 percent of the energy used to treat the water comes from outside”. The challenge of securing an adequate water supply comes with the challenges of energy security and climate stabilization. However, the PUB is developing different methods such as electrodeionisation technology and biomimetic or biomimicry techniques that reduces the energy consumption by a significant amount from the conventional reverse osmosis method used. IN an article published by TODAY Singapore (2016), these new processes use about 1.65 to 1.8 kilowatts per hour and 1 kilowatt per hour respectively, as compared to almost double the energy required by the previous methods.

Lastly, efforts from the government alone are not enough to ensure an adequate water supply for future generations. Singaporeans should play their part in realizing that water is a precious resource and conservation is a vital aspect in Singapore’s water infrastructure. From the success Singapore has achieved from its water story, they have effectively blinded Singaporeans from realizing that water supplies are drying up (Biswas, n.d.). Singaporeans are taking this precious resource for granted and uses water without realizing the potential threat of not having enough water in the future. Although PUB has set up programmes such as the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme to educate residents on the importance of conserving water, it is not a good enough effort on the government’s part. Singapore’s water prices have been relatively cheap and affordable and Biswas mentioned that “water prices should have been increases a long time ago”.

Although Singapore is confident in meeting the potential increase in water demand, challenges that have been mentioned should be addressed and prioritized equally with setting up water infrastructure. By doing so, Singapore will have fully independent water sources in the future.