As Mr Khoo says, Singapore has come a long way from the days when it was faced with problems such as flooding, pollution and water shortages. Since then, PUB – Singapore's national water agency – has been recognised through many international awards, such as the prestigious Stockholm Industry Water Award last year, Water Agency of the Year in the Global Water Awards 2006. In addition, NEWater won the Environmental Contribution of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2008.

Mr Khoo attributes PUB’s achievement to investing in water restoration and development (R&D), technology and by adopting an integrated and holistic approach to water management.

“Today, we have in place a long-term water supply strategy known as the Four National Taps, comprising water from local catchments, imported water, reclaimed water (branded NEWater in Singapore) and desalinated water,” he says.

Mr Khoo said that NEWater and desalinated water are the result of PUB’s continuous investments in R&D and technology.

“By leveraging on advancements in technology and decreasing costs, PUB was able to successfully introduce these two alternatives as viable sources of water for Singapore in the last five years.”

Getting community involved

Mr Khoo says that PUB has also worked towards a more people-oriented approach to delivering water, by adopting the tagline ‘Water for all: Conserve, Value, Enjoy.’

“Securing an adequate supply of water is only half of the equation – managing the water demand is just as important. To ensure sustainability of Singapore’s water resources, PUB calls on all Singaporeans to play their part to conserve water, keep the water catchments and waterways clean and build a closer relationship with water by enjoying this precious resource.”

Mr Khoo sees communication as a key part of PUB’s efforts to reach out to Singaporeans regarding water issues. This is demonstrated through public outreach efforts such as the NEWater Visitor Centre – a museum on Singapore’s water story.

Since its opening in 2003, this award winning initiative has drawn more than 500,000 visitors. It was named Best Sightseeing/Leisure/Educational Program at the 2005 Singapore Tourism Awards and highly commended in the 2006 International Water Association – Marketing and Communication Award for School Information Program.

Trenchless Technology in Singapore

Trenchless Technologies have been widely used for laying sewers in Singapore since the early 1980s, with the main method being pipe jacking. Mr Khoo says that trenchless techniques are an advantage because the sewers are typically laid at depths greater than 4 m along busy roads.

“The conventional open-trench method is no longer feasible especially in densely built-up areas and with more stringent requirements on the protection of utilities and structures,” he says.

“Trenchless Technology has also been adopted for PUB’s sewer rehabilitation works since the 1990s, because of its reduced inconvenience to the public, enhanced safety and lower costs.”

Currently, PUB is working on the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which comprises a 48 km deep tunnel, a water reclamation plant, a deep sea outfall and some 60 km of linking sewers. Relying entirely on gravity, used water is channelled through the deep tunnel to the water reclamation plant where it is treated before being discharged to the sea.

Trenchless Technology is being used in the construction of these deep tunnels and link sewers. The construction of the 48 km tunnels with diameters ranging from 3.3 m to 6 m and depths of 18 m to 50 m below ground were completed using tunnel boring machines.

The link sewers, with diameters up to 3m and depths of up to 40 m are mainly being laid by pipe jacking.

Mr Khoo says “We are also using Trenchless Technology to re-line some 600km of public sewers and private drain lines under the third phase of the ongoing sewer rehabilitation program. The trenchless technology used includes cure-in-place piping, spiral wound lining and fold-and-form technology.”

When asked about the future use of Trenchless Technology in Singapore, Mr Khoo said that PUB will continue to adopt the use of Trenchless Technology for the laying of sewers and for Singapore’s ongoing sewer rehabilitation program.

“This is to ensure that Singapore’s sewer system is kept in tip-top condition and free of leakages that could contaminate our rainwater collection system.”

Research and Development

Mr Khoo says that research and development are key drivers in PUB’s efforts to develop Singapore into a hub for water technologies.

“We are constantly exploring more efficient and cost-effective ways of treating and producing water. Last year, a full-scale variable salinity plant capable of treating both freshwater and seawater was built to enable us to tap water from the marginal catchments. In addition, PUB’s Bedok NEWater Factory was the first in the world to introduce the 16-inch reverse osmosis membrane in water reclamation in 2006.”

Mr Khoo says that water has been identified as a new growth sector for Singapore, with $A255 million to be pumped into water R&D over the next 5 years. He says that the country is home to more than 50 national and international water companies spanning the entire water value chain.

“Singaporean companies have built up their reputation through participating in local projects – such as NEWater, Marina Barrage and DTSS - and are now exporting their expertise to places such as China, India, the Middle East and Europe.”

Mr Khoo goes on to say “We are actively promoting Singapore as an ideal place for water R&D, a fact that has been recognised by major players such as Siemens Water Technologies, General Electric, Delft Hydraulics, Keppel Corporation and Hyflux, which have all set up research centres here.

“Top water multi-nationals like Black and Veatch and CH2MHill have made Singapore a key focus in their business expansion plans by setting up their regional headquarters here.”

Last year, the International Water Association announced its first regional office at PUB’s WaterHub – a centre set up for partners and stakeholders in the water industry to engage more closely with one another.

“We are also working closely with leading universities and international organisations such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swiss ETH and the Asian Development bank to set up research campuses as well as knowledge hubs specialising in water and the environment,” said Mr Khoo.

Singapore International Water Week

The Singapore International Water Week will be launched in June as a global platform for the discussion of water solutions. Policy makers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners will come together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.

The five-day event will see the who’s who of the industry gather in Singapore to share best practices, showcase technologies and celebrate achievements in a unique international conference and trade show.

Mr Khoo says that the week will be centred around a theme of Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities.

“According to United Nations Population Fund, more than half the world’s population – 3.3 billion people – will be living in urban areas by this year. By 2030, this is expected to swell to almost 5 billion. Asia’s urban population alone will double to 2.6 million between 2000 and 2030.

“With growing globalisation and urbanisation, good urban leadership is critical. Governments, corporations and industries need to address the water woes facing cities together through sustainable and effective implementation of water infrastructure, and continued research and innovation,” Mr Khoo says.

“Through this theme, the Singapore International Water Week aims to be the platform for stimulating discussions and knowledge transfer among industry leaders and practitioners by showcasing successful case studies and effective solutions.”

The highlight of the water week will be the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, an international award that recognises outstanding contributions towards solving the world’s water problems.

Chosen from 39 nominations from more than 15 countries, Dr Andrew Benedek, a researcher and successful ‘technopreneur’ is the first recipient of the prize for his work in pioneering the development of low-pressure membranes in water treatment.

Other key events include the Water Leaders Summit which is a platform for ministers, government officials and top industry players to exchange ideas on policy, development and global issues relating to water.

In addition, the week will feature a conference for industry experts, practitioners, researchers and academics to discuss the latest advances and challenges in water and used water treatment; a trade show featuring products and services from more than 300 participating companies from over 20 countries; and, a water festival that will see events and water-based activities being organised for members of the public to encourage a greater appreciation of this precious resource.

Seven regional business forums will also provide water industry players with a platform for discovering opportunities in markets in China, India, Japan, South-east Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Europe.