Erm, do you have the numbers to prove that?Originally posted by chiabaliao:Recycled water will always be limited. You can never achieve self-sufficiency that way. You need a large catchment area, and that is where Singapore must really really come to a realistic agreement with Malaysia. Self sufficiency is a pipe-dream, in my opinion, unless you do massive desalination of sea-water at a high cost.
Increasing the catchment area is just one way---www.nea.gov.sg/cms/ccird/soe/soe_chap2.pdf
to maximise the water supply from local catchments.
In reality, the catchment size contributing to a
reservoir may not coincide with its storage capacity.
This mismatch results in rainwater going to waste.
To address this, we have embarked on a
Reservoir Integration Scheme to connect
various reservoirs through a system of pumps and pipelines.
In this way, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) will be
able to pump excess water from one reservoir
to another for storage. The Scheme is slated
for completion in 2006.
Simple, ask Johor to shut off the pipes, and let's see whether recycled water is enough.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Erm, do you have the numbers to prove that?
2.Thats why sg sales of primary water is on down trend.
SEAA Winner STMicroelectronics
January 25, 2005
In the world of business, the words "industries" and "environmental conservation" often do not go hand-in-hand.
One organisation however, has shown that you can run your business, and conserve the environment as well.
STMicroelectronics, a global semi-conductor company, was one of the winners of last year's Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards.
The Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards is an annual competition organised by the Singapore Environmental Council.
This competition aims to recognise organisations in Singapore that have shown an exemplary example in being environmentally and socially responsible.
With a significant number of eco-friendly initiatives implemented so far, STMicroelectronics has shown dedication in protecting the environment.
Mr Chong Yuen Ngian(CYN), the site facility, safety, security and environment director for STMicroelectronics, describes some of these initiatives.
CYN: In terms of ecology project and in the energy category, we introduce a kind of device called ball technique for chillers. Why chillers? Because in air-con systems, it consumes more energy. For chillers, we have achieve energy savings, amounting to 15 MWH of electricity every year, which is what more than 2500 households, living in air-conditioned, 5-room condominium would need in a year.
For water, recycyling of waste water has allowed us to save the equivalent of 2-3 olympic sized swimming pools daily.
For chemical, we have set up a sulphuric acid recyling plant on site, to reclaim waste acid for prouction re-use. This project has the savings of SGD$3 million a year.
Originally posted by chiabaliao:Simple, ask Johor to shut off the pipes, and let's see whether recycled water is enough.
Self-sufficiency does not necessarily save cost nor is self-sufficiency the goal of the government. Saving face is more for the Malaysian government which continues to sell us raw water at 2 cents. Unless the government has turned around and decided on some expensive massive programs (more and more huge desalination plants) other than newater (which will probably supply only 25-30% of Singapore's needs), then only self-sufficiency is possible. In fact, the government talks about 4 taps - 1) water catchments (transforming 90% of Singapore land into catchment area), 2) newater, 3) imported water, and 4) desalinated water. So, it's unlikely they want to stop the third tap.Originally posted by soulwinner:Malaysia alway use the water issues to threaten us so by being self-efficient we can save cost and save face...![]()
No, the Tuas desalination plant will only supply 10 percent of Singapore's present needs. Singapore's water need is expected to grow by a third in 10 years. Of course, decreasing the amount of imported water is a good thing, but the government is realistic and does not rule out imported water.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Who says that we must turn off one of the taps just to prove self-sufficency?
What we are trying to do is to make sure that we are not screwed if the foreign tap is ever turned off due to means beyond our control. As it stands now so far they have been doing a rather sucessful job.
The Malaysians know are aware of this reality and now know that the cards are not all on their side in this game anymore.
Currently rainfall provides us with 50 percent of our water, and traditionally the other 50 percent comes from Malaysia, a portion that we have been shaving down by finding water from other sources and increasing catchment areas.
The single desalination plant built in 2005 itself already reduced the 50 percent we must take from Malaysia to 40, and that was just the beginning of the desalination project. We haven't even figured in the increases of the other two local taps yet, of which Newater shaves off another 8 percent and increased water catchment even more. And note that these technologies are just in their starting stage and have not yet reach their zenith. This is a dramatic improvement from the 50 percent we used to rely on them and the proportion of this is still increasing.
Unless Singapore dramatically increase its daily water requirements (unlikely given that our water-intensive industries have matured and we are looking into regenerative sources of water), the Malaysian tap is becoming less of a do-or-die part of our water supply.
As it stands there are no technical or economic hurdles that are impossible to overcome- just that there's no need for a knee-jerk response to achieve self-sufficency when Malaysia is still treaty-bound until 2061... however sitting around and convincing ourselves that we always have to rely on them is hardly the way to go as well. But is there really anything major in the way of self-sufficency? No, it's more a matter of time.
Is that good for us? Yes. Can we contuine to rely on Malaysia forever? I think not. The will have their own problems with water in the future as well, despite some of their politicans calls for Johoreans to take more baths.
It's not even really a choice for us, it's simply something we must do.
2.The projection of increases one third in 10 years seem not valid.Originally posted by chiabaliao:Singapore's water need is expected to grow by a third in 10 years.

Fair enough, obviously it would be unwise to disregard the foreign tap entirely. Just that if JB ever cut the line for whatever reason, it would be mean the absolute collapse of Singapore, which is a good thing.Originally posted by chiabaliao:Of course, decreasing the amount of imported water is a good thing, but the government is realistic and does not rule out imported water.
I have to add that future imported water may come from countries other than Johor. Diversification of sources is the key here. In case of natural disaster like dry spell, we can import more water or run the plants to their upper limits to make up for low reservoir levels.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Fair enough, obviously it would be unwise to disregard the foreign tap entirely. Just that if JB ever cut the line for whatever reason, it would be mean the absolute collapse of Singapore, which is a good thing.
Please do your math before commenting.Originally posted by Urroh:when our populations hits 6.5 million.. how much increase will also be not enough..![]()
2.pl read my opening post.ONLY HALF OF WATER DEMANDOriginally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Fair enough, obviously it would be unwise to disregard the foreign tap entirely. Just that if JB ever cut the line for whatever reason, it would be mean the absolute collapse of Singapore, which is a good thing.
''To meet this growing demand, Ulu Pandan NEWater plant has expanded its capacity from 25 to 32 million gallons of water per day. And two other NEWater plants, Kranji and Bedok, have large-scale expansion plants.For the past ten years,NEWater is expected to provide 15% of SG
"PUB will also bring forward the construction of the fifth NEWater factory at Changi which will produce 50 million gallons per day. Therefore, by 2011, our NEWater plants will have the combined capacity to meet 30 percent of Singapore's water needs, double the original target and this puts us in a strong position to meet any future uncertainties in water supply."

what is it?Originally posted by audiovideo:is Newater diatom free?
Yes, not only that but, the water it produces is actually purer then normally treated water. This is about one step beyond the reclaimed that Yanks use.Originally posted by audiovideo:is Newater diatom free?
After the completion of Changi NEWater Plant in 2011 of 231,300m3/day,the total output
of all NEWater plants will be more than 490,000m3/day
If successful, it can potentially increase the water catchment area in Singapore from 67 per cent to 90 per cent.let say also not so effective,
--http://domino.kln.gov.my/water.htm
5. Getting the basic facts and figures right.
Singapore:
"Singapore buys only half of its water, or about 150 million gallons per day (mgd) from Malaysia. The other 150 mgd come from its own reservoirs." (Singapore Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, 2003 ;Water Talks? If Only It Could;, page 6.)

It is a key pillar of our efforts to become self-sufficient in water.--Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Official Opening of Keppel Seghers Ulu Pandan Newater Plant on 15 March 2007
By 2061 when the 1962 Agreement expires, we can be totally self-sufficient, if there is no new water agreement with Malaysia.--SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF NEWATER ON FRIDAY, 21ST FEBRUARY 2003, AT NEWATER VISITOR CENTRE, 20 KOH SEK LIM ROAD.--http://stars.nhb.gov.sg/stars/public/
