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NEWATER PROGRAMME Overview / Summary of the Initiative

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NEWATER PROGRAMME Overview / Summary of the Initiative NEWATER PROGRAMME Overview / summary of the initiative Title: NEWater programme Country: Singapore Thematic area: Circular economy and re-industrialisation, Security Objective(s): NEWater is one of the pillars in the Singapore water sustainability strategy. It is expected that by 2060, the NEWater high-grade recycled water will meet up to 55% of Singapore’s water needs.1 NEWater (water recycling) contributes towards to ensuring a safe, sustainable and continuous supply of water to Singapore. Timeline: 2003 (first two NEWater plants launched)2 – Scale of the initiative (resource/budget indication): NEWater is one of the four main sources of water supply in Singapore. Estimating the overall investment in the technology and establishment of the plants is difficult. However, in 2004, PUB formed its water R&D program which has since supported more than 510 projects with a collective value of S$ 356 million.3 The S$200 million dedicated to the water industry from the National Research Foundation (NRF) announced in 2016 has been estimated to bring the total water R&D funding to S$670 million over 15 years.4 Scope of the initiative: Water R&D in Singapore – led by PUB (Singapore’s National Water Agency) - covers the whole water cycle and the whole innovation chain. Research for water innovations is supported in the stages of idea development, pilots, demonstration, test-bedding and commercialization. This is also exemplified by NEWater, the brand name used for the high-grade reclaimed water produced in Singapore using membranes and ultra- violet disinfection.5 In the 1970s, Singapore commissioned a study of the feasibility and suitability to use membrane technology for water treatment. Due to high costs and unproven reliability, the technology was not adopted at the time. Nonetheless, as the technology advanced, a new study was conducted in the late 90s, followed by a demonstration plant in the early 2000s. In 2003, the first two operational plants were opened.6 Research efforts still continue to optimise the technology, improve the NEWater recovery rate, and generally look for more cost- effective methods to treat, recycle and supply water.7 Source of funding (public/private/public-private): Public Granularity of the initiative (initiative, policy approach): Public policy - NEWater is one of the four main sources of water, so called ‘four Taps’, in Singapore. NEWater is a strategic choice for Singapore which aims to insure continuous and reliable water supply. NEWater thus forms one of the main pillars of Singapore’s sustainability plan. NEWater is produced in (currently five) plants in Singapore and is managed by PUB, the National Water Agency. Source (webpage): https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/newater Brief description of the initiative: As a way to ensure adequate and sustainable water supply, Singapore has embraced technology and innovative water management strategies and the government has adopted targeted research programs.8 Reusing water – applied through the production of NEWater - is one of the cornerstones in Singapore’s water strategy (the other two are maximising water collection and catchment and making use of sea water through desalination).9 NEWater is the brand name used for ultra-clean, recycled water in Singapore. NEWater is also one of the “Four National Taps” ( water from local catchment, imported water, NEWater, and desalinated water) which contribute towards the diversified water supply. NEWater is used mainly for industrial purposes, but when necessary, it is added to the water reservoirs for tab water. NEWater is produced when reclaimed used water is treated with membrane technology (microfiltration and reverse osmosis) and ultra-violet light.10 Presently, the five operating NEWater plants can supply up to 40% of the water needs 1 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 2 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 3 PUB (2017), “Innovation in Water Singapore”, an R&D Publication of PUB Singapore, Vol. 9, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUB_InnovationinWater_Issue9.pdf 4 PUB (2016), “S$200 million funding boost for Singapore’s water industry over the next five years”, published on 10.07.2016, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/news/pressreleases/s$200millionfundingboostforsingaporeswaterindustryoverthenextfiveyears 5 PUB, “Singapore Water Story”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/singaporewaterstory 6 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 7 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 8 PUB (2017), “Innovation in Water Singapore”, an R&D Publication of PUB Singapore, Vol. 9, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUB_InnovationinWater_Issue9.pdf 9 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 10 PUB, “NEWater”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/newater in Singapore. As water demand is expected to grow, there are plans to increase this capacity so that by 2060 NEWater will be able to meet up to 55% of the water needs in Singapore.11 I: Background, origin, mission and ambition Ia: Origin Singapore is one of the most water-stressed countries and relies on water imports (water agreement with Malaysia will expire in 2061).12 In its strive to reduce its water dependency, Singapore has been one of the frontrunners in water innovation. The idea behind NEWater is not new. Already in 1970, a feasibility study concluded that while possible, the technology was too expensive.13 With the advancement of membrane technology, the idea gained new momentum and in in 1998, a NEWater study was initiated.14 Following extensive tests for safety and compliance with international water quality standards, 15 including from an international team of experts, the first two NEWater plants were opened in 2003. Since 16 then three more plants have been added, with the latest plant opening in 2017. Ib: Initiator The Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB) is the main body responsible for water management in Singapore and NEWater. Ic: Mission and ambition NEWater is one of the pillars in the Singapore water sustainability strategy and constitutes on of the four water “taps” in Singapore. NEWater is expected to be able to meet up to 55% of the water needs in 2060 (an increase from the current capacity to meet max 40% of the needs) and to continue to contribute towards a diversified and reliant water system. In addition to the already utilized water technologies, Singapore has continued its R&D water related efforts. These cover issues such as new technologies and improved performance of current technologies such as membranes used in the production of NEWater. The main ambition of the PUB’s water R&D program is to contribute towards a sustainable water supply for Singapore through increase in Singapore’s water resources, reduction of production costs, 17 enhancement of water quality and security, and growth support the water industry . Id: Decision making process Through what kind of decision making processes the ambition level, objectives, targets and milestones were set? Are they measurable? What is the timespan? The objective to increase NEWater capacity to meet 55% of the nation’s water needs by 2060 stems from the expectations that the water demand will only increase, both from industry and from domestic users. Additionally, Singapore also expects that the agreement for water import from Malaysia will also end in 2061, thus driving the need for non-conventional water supply. The goal of the government to work towards water self-reliance is clear and the target capacity for NEWater is set in a measurable manner. This does not however mean that this is the end of NEWater or the R&D water policy.18 The decision to implement the membrane water treatment technology was taken after a comprehensive study (first in the 1970s and then in 1998). The 1998 NEWater study took two years and the results were evaluated by a panel of 19 foreign and local experts before the decision to commission the first two NEWater plants. Ie: Linkage to other governance levels Are the objectives linked to other governance levels (i.e. international, EU, national, regional, local) and if so, how? The policy is national and no regional policies were found. If: Geographical scope What is the geographical coverage (one country, wider coverage, local/regional/state level) The water R&D policy and NEWater are both country-wide initiatives. Ig: Time span What is the expected / anticipated time span of the initiative N.A. The goals have been set for 2060, but the production of NEWater is expected to continue further in time. II: Formation IIa: Driving forces 11 PUB, “NEWater”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/newater 12 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 13 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 14 PUB, “NEWater”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/newater 15 PUB (2017), “Our Water, our future”, available at: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/PUBOurWaterOurFuture.pdf 16 PUB (2017), “Singapore's fifth NEWater plant opens”, published 17.01.2017, available
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