Integrated Urban Water Management: Singapore’s Experience & Lessons Learnt

Maurice NeoDirector, Industry Development &

Managing Director, Singapore International Water Week

High population density

5.2M population / 710 km2 land area

High annual rainfall 2400 mm

Average water demand

1.6 million m3/d (380 mgd)

Biodata of SingaporeSmall Island State

Singapore in our early days

“Singapore … at the 170th position among a list of 190 countries in terms of freshwater availability.”

- United Nations World Water Development Report

Population Growth - Population from 1.65 million in 1960 to 5.2 million in 2011

Rapid Economic Growth – Per capital GDP from USD 428* in 1960 to USD

43,867 in 2010

Only 2 national taps - catchment (dependent on weather) and imported

water from Malaysia

Not all homes are sewered (bucket system)

Street hawkers

Unaccounted for water is high

Typical Developing Country with Myriad of Challenges

4 National Taps - Resilient supply of water

Unaccounted for Water below 5 % – One of the lowest in the world

Domestic water consumption per capita at 153 litres/day

100% of population served by potable water at the tap & 100% modern sanitation

Integrated urban and water planning to enhance the quality of our living environment

Singapore TodayProsperity Through Hard Work

The Singapore Water StoryThe Singapore Water Story

Water is top of the Government's Agenda

“ … This (water) dominated every other

policy. Every other policy had to bend at

the knees for water survival.”

- Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore

(1965-1990), at the inaugural Singapore International

Water Week 2008

Lesson #1: Water is an Issue of Survival

Alignment and Alignment and ConsensusConsensus

PoliticalPolitical

Operator Operator (PUB)(PUB)

IndustryIndustry

PopulationPopulation

Emeritus Senior Minister

Goh Chok Tong drinking

NEWater in public in

2002

PM Lee Hsien Loong toasting UN

Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon with

NEWater in 2012

The public drinking

NEWater at National

Day Parade in 2002

To achieve a liveable and sustainable Singapore

To ensure a clean, sustainable environment and water supply for Singapore

•Clean Land

To ensure an efficient, adequate and sustainable

supply of water

•Clean Air

•Public Health

•Water Supply •Used Water

•Drainage

PUB, the National Water Agency

Lesson #2: Have One Water Agency to Holistically Manage the Water Loop

A Systems Approach to Water Management

seasearainrainstormwater stormwater managementmanagement

collection collection of rainfall of rainfall

in drains & in drains & reservoirsreservoirs

treatment oftreatment ofraw to potableraw to potable

waterwater

NEWaterNEWater

collectioncollectionof used waterof used water

in sewersin sewerssupply of supply of

water to thewater to thepopulation & population &

industriesindustries

treatment treatment ofof

used waterused water

desalinationdesalination

2. Storing rainwater for water supply

3. Maintain discharge quality into drains and

sewers

4. Reusing used water instead of

discharging into sea

5. Identify gaps for R&D

1. Better overall planning & budgeting

Lesson #3: Close the Water Loop; Used Water as a Resource

Getting Singapore to build a relationship with water

• Collecting every drop• Collecting every used drop•Use every drop more than once• Creating new drops

Increasing Supply and Managing Demand

Increasing Water Supply

Managing Water Demand

Conserve, Value and Enjoy Water for All

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Collecting Every Drop

PunggolPunggol

Legend

Unprotected Water Catchment

Protected Water Catchment

Urbanized Water Catchment

Protected CatchmentUnprotected

CatchmentUrban Stormwater Collection System

o Total of 17 reservoirs, including the largest Marina Catchment at

10,000 ha

o Catchment area is now two-thirds of Singapore, to reach 90% of

Singapore’s land area by 2060

o Exploring underground caverns for water storage

Kranji Reservoir

Bedok Stormwater Pond

Marina Barrage

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Collecting Every Used Drop

Deep Tunnel Sewers

Link Sewers

Changi Outfall

Changi WRP

Ulu Pandan WRP – 46 haTreatment capacity – 361,000 m3/dayUlu Pandan WRP – 46 haTreatment capacity – 361,000 m3/day

Changi WRP – 32 haTreatment capacity – 800,000 m3/day

Changi WRP – 32 haTreatment capacity – 800,000 m3/day

• 100% sewered, 3400km of sewers• 48km Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, centralised reclamation of used water• Reclaimed water is an important feedstock for NEWater

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Using Every Drop More Than Once

NEWater pipeline

NEWater Plant

Service Reservoir

Legend

Kranji

Bedok

Ulu Pandan NEWater Plant by Keppel

Seghers- DBOO

12 mgd in 2003

17 mgd in 2008

6 mgd in 2003

18 mgd in 2009

NEWater to meet 50% of Singapore’s water demand by 2060

Sembcorp NEWater Plant – DBOO

NEWater Treatment Microfiltration /Ultrafiltration

Reverse Osmosis

Ultraviolet Disinfection

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Creating New Drops

• SingSpring Desal Plant (2005) - Produce 30 mgd for 20 years

• Tuaspring Desalination Plant (2013), will add another 70 mgd for 25 years

• Combined capacity 100mgd (current daily demand 380mgd)

• Other Ideas under exploration:

• Desalination on Barge

Desalination to meet 30% of Singapore’s water demand by 2060

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Managing Demand

Water Conservation Strategy

Pricing

Reflect the strategic importance Reflect the strategic importance and scarcity value of waterand scarcity value of water

Voluntary3P approach

Promote ownership of water

conservation

MandatoryCut down on excessive

flow and wastage of water

Domestic Water Consumption / Capita (1999-2012)

2012

• Water Efficiency Labeling Scheme

Controlling Unaccounted for Water•Network Management•Leakage Control•Strict Legislation•Accurate metering

1999

• Household visit programs

• Dual Flush Cisterns

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Pricing as a Strategy

“ … If you give it for free, no one will bother to put off the tap. Pricing is a very important part of managing the demand for water.”

- Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore at

Singapore International Water Week 2011

Potable Water* Used Water

Tariff

category

Consumption block

(m3 per mth)

Tariff

(¢/m3)

WCT1

(%)

Total

(¢/m3)

WBF2

(¢/m3)

SAF3

(¢/appliance)

Domestic 1 to 40 117 30 152 30 300

Above 40 140 45 203 30 300

Non-domestic All units 117 30 152 60 300

*In Singapore, we price it at the cost of producing the next alternative drop

Lesson #4: Sustainable Water Management = Increasing Supply + Managing Demand

Engaging the Community

Lesson #5: Getting Buy-in by Bringing Onboard the Community

A. ACTIVENew recreational spaces

B. BEAUTIFUL Integration of waters with urban landscapes

C. CLEAN Improved water quality

After

After

Before

Before

• Outreach programs to raise awareness

• Incorporate water planning as part of urban planning

• Improves liveability and creates a pleasant urban environment

• National Research Foundation set aside S$330mil over five years to grow the water industry; S$140 mil added in 2011

• 2015 Targets:i. Increase value-add from S$0.5bn to S$1.7bnii. Double number of jobs to 11,000

Government Commitment to Grow the Water SectorGrowing a Water Industry

Lesson #6: Tapping on Industry to serve PUB’s needs

Global Water Players & UtilitiesOverseas Institutions

Local Water CompaniesLocal Academic Institutions

Invest in the Future

Lesson #7: Future-ready through Innovations and Technology

Public-Private PartnershipsPublic-Private Partnerships Co-creating innovative water solutionsCo-creating innovative water solutions

Sembcorp NEWater Plant

Keppel Seghers Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant

Hyflux Singspring Desalination Plant

Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (Consultant: CH2MHILL)

Low-energy desalination (PUB-Siemens)

Fish Activity Monitoring System (PUB, I2R, ZWEEC)

Improve Improve and Protect and Protect

Water Water QualityQuality ReduceReduce

Energy Energy ConsumptionConsumption

IncreaseIncreaseWater Water

ResourcesResources

MinimizeMinimizeWaste Waste

GenerationGeneration

Lower Lower Chemical Chemical

UsageUsage

Decrease Decrease Water Water

Production Production Costs Costs

Technically Feasible and Technically Feasible and Economically Viable Water SolutionsEconomically Viable Water Solutions• Almost S$800M worth Almost S$800M worth

of projects awarded of projects awarded annuallyannually

• Design, Build, Own, Design, Build, Own, Operate schemesOperate schemes

• Over 100 Test-bedding Over 100 Test-bedding projects conducted projects conducted with PUBwith PUB

• Funding schemes for Funding schemes for R&D via technology R&D via technology roadmaproadmap

Co-creating Solutions Together

Bringing the world together to share and co-create innovative water solutions

• A global event: More than 19,000 delegates from 104 regions/countries in 2012

• A solutions-oriented conference and exhibition• Attracts delegates across the entire water sector• Key focus areas: business, networking, R&D and

technology

• Date: 18 – 19 Sep 2013• Location: Singapore• Target audience: Approx. 100 – 150 senior leaders to co-create innovative solutions for the water utilities sector

SIWW Water Utilities Leaders Forum“Mapping Challenges & Solutions”

CONTINUITYCONTINUITY: Continue the dialogue with fellow water leaders up to the next SIWW

CONTINUITYCONTINUITY: Continue the dialogue with fellow water leaders up to the next SIWW

OWNERSHIP: OWNERSHIP: Be part of the pioneer group to co-create a “live” document that charts challenges and solutions for water utilities

OWNERSHIP: OWNERSHIP: Be part of the pioneer group to co-create a “live” document that charts challenges and solutions for water utilities

EXCLUSIVE:EXCLUSIVE:High-level and by-invitation only

EXCLUSIVE:EXCLUSIVE:High-level and by-invitation only

Lesson #8: Sharing Our Experience and Learning from Others

Thank You