Yahoo! News - Singapore formerly obtained 50% of its water from nearby Malaysia. Because of the success of the current water strategy, the country did not renew a 50-year water contract with Malaysia that expired in 2011 (after failed negotiations in 2002). Singapore projects 100% water independence by 2061, when a separate 99-year water contract with Malaysia expires, even though demand will have doubled by then.
Sharon Kleyne, a longtime water recycling advocate, believes that every government on Earth should be excited about Singapore’s water accomplishments. According to Kleyne, 1.3 billion of Earth’s 7 billion people lack access to safe and sufficient drinking water and suffers disease and mortality as a result. Even where the water supply is adequate, it is often transported for hundreds of miles at great expense. Many existing water sources worldwide are no longer adequate.
The Singapore water model has three components:
1. Improved rainwater catchment. Singapore will soon have 17 reservoirs to capture rainwater runoff from roofs, streets, sidewalks, open land and streams. To further slow and capture runoff, the city is attempting to reforest its few open areas. This program will eventually provide 20% of the island’s water.
2. Desalination of sea water. This is well-established technology, with high energy and labor costs. The cost is not prohibitive, however, and is slowly coming down. Singapore completed its first desalination plant in 2005, has another under construction and plans two more. This program will eventually provide 30% of the island’s water.
3. Water recycling. In addition to normal sewage treatment, Singapore is constructing five “NEWater” treatment facilities, where treated waste water is further purified to drinkable (potable) standards for human consumption. Most NEWater is currently used for industrial cooling but could safely be introduced into the drinking water supply prior to final purification. NEWater is gaining increasing public acceptance and will eventually supply up to 50% of Singapore’s water needs. The city is also improving its sewer and sanitation system to get waste water to processing plants more efficiently..
...“This is all wonderful news,” says Mrs. Kleyne. “Improvements in water recycling could avert many water wars and save millions of lives around the world for generations to come.” It should be noted that Singapore is one of the world’s wealthiest countries.