Water Reuse for Singapore’s Circular Economy and Sustainability

Water reuse or recycled wastewater is one solution to address water scarcity for present and future demands. Scientists think that due to population and industrial growth, water demands will surpass available freshwater sources in the future.

Water reuse or recycling of wastewater is also an approach to close the water loop and extend the lifetime use of water, bringing about environmental, economic, and social gains. Singapore’s small but highly developed economy lacks the water resources it needs as it does not have natural aquifers and lakes. At the same time, its land area is limited in terms of collecting and storing rainwater.

The supply of fresh water to its residents and industries comes from four sources: imported water from Malaysia, water from the local catchment, desalinated water, and water reuse.

Chapter 3, Water Reuse in Singapore, The New Frontier in a Framework of a Circular Economy from the book – Water Reuse within a Circular Economy Context, discusses water reuse technology in Singapore quite thoroughly. The UNESCO publishes the book in 2020.

Chapter 3 of the book states that the country began implementing water reuse as early as 2003 for potable and non-potable uses, applying the concept of a circular economy.

It says further:

“Water reuse is part of a comprehensive water security framework in the city-state that considers long-term policy, planning, management, governance and technological developments. As essential foundations for a reliable water reuse system, we discuss water resources management related institutional and legal frameworks and their evolution over time water reuse is a part of its comprehensive framework for water security”.

Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) named its water reuse and recycled wastewater product “NEWater.” Water reuse supplies 40% of Singapore’s water needs and is projected to expand to 55% by 2060.

Municipal and industrial wastewater is used for water recovery, which goes through various stages of purification depending on its intended use, either for potable or non-potable applications like landscape irrigation, agriculture, groundwater storage, wetland remediation, etc.

Water recycling aims to alleviate pressure on water resources and protect the environment within the sustainability framework.

The book discusses how NEWater started, its water purification processes, and its many benefits and contributions to urban water resilience.

When Singapore began its water reuse program in 2003, Windhoek, Namibia, and Orange County, California, had already been applying the technology for many decades. Singapore studied the experience of these two countries in water reuse and established its system and large-scale implementation.

Singapore faces the challenge of public acceptance of drinking recycled water or ‘toilet water’. However, through widespread education and campaigns, Singaporeans eventually embraced and accepted recycled water as an essential water source.

Water reuse or recycling is a great solution to alleviate water problems in rapidly growing urban areas that do not have access to safe drinking water or natural water resources. Singapore exemplifies this.

Countries with water scarcity issues and vulnerability to climate change can also benefit from this technology, which can help them extend their water supply and build resilience to climate change.

Read Chapter 3 of the book by clicking the link in the “Source” section below.