Lessons from the Little Red Dot

Observations on the effective management of water in Singapore

Singapore

Land Area 707 km2

Population 4.8 mil

Average Annual Rainfall 2,400 mm

Average Water Demand 1.6 mil m3/day

1960 19701950

Reservoirs not sufficient to supply water to population of 1 million

Water has to be imported JoharMalaysia

Rivers extremely polluted

Draught lead to severe rationing being imposed

Water supply treaties signed with Malaysia

1965-Singapore becomes independent

Master plan for Singapore River

Kallang Basin Cleanup

1990 20001980 2010

Singapore River and KallangBasin Cleanedup

PUB and MoEcommission extensive reclamation study

Singapore gets its first water reclamation plant at Bedok

Waste water gets treated to very high standards –NEWater

Achieves• 100% access to clean drinking water•100% wastewater treatment•100% metered water supply

•Sewerage Rehabilitation Program•Catchment Expansion Program•Initiated conjunctive use of water by blending NEWater in reservoirs

Singapore River – Shifting of ports activity and boats

Courtesy: Remote Sensing of Earth Observation, Urban Development of Singapore Project

Courtesy: Public Utility BoardCourtesy: Public Utility Board

Monitoring of Water Quality

• Real time monitoring of multiple water qualities. Turbidity, TOC, DOC, BOC, COD, NO3

• System Setup:

– Spectrometry Water quality sensor, Multi-parameters.

– Logging computer and wireless communication system.

– Web access and real time data publishing.

Resource: Choo Chun Keong SysEng (S) Pte Ltd

Courtesy: Public Utility Board

Integrated Water Quality Management System and Real Time Monitoring

Supply and Demand Management

Institutional Effectiveness and Political Will

Effective and Functional Legal and Regulatory Framework

R & D , Training and Technology in Water Sector

LESSONS

Supply and Demand Management

Sources of water (National Taps)

Local Catchment Imported WaterNEWaterDesalinated Water

AIMSAutomated

Mapping and Information System

Demand Management

Using Water Network Models and Water Tariff Scheme

Courtesy: Public Utility Board

Strategies to Manage Catchment Water Quality

Automated Mapping and Information System

Courtesy: Public Utility Board

Effective demand has reduced over the years !

Demand has actually gone down!

Institutional Effectiveness

“Water management institution in a country can

only be as efficient as its management of other development sectors.” – Cecilia Tortajada

Public Utility Board ( PUB) – Autonomous

– Significant political and public support

– Financially viable (PUB tapped the commercial market for S$400 million bond issue)

• Attract leading research institutes, universities, corporate labs to Singapore

• Collaborate with leading research institutes, universities, corporate labs

R &D , Training and Technology

So What?

Balancing ACT

Singapore has successfully managed to find the right balances between:

• water quantity and water quality considerations;

• water supply and water demand management;

• public sector and private sector participation;

• efficiency and equity considerations;

• strategic national interest and economic efficiency; and

• strengthening internal capacities and reliance on external sources.

India’s Journey to Clean Water ?

• Woke up to Water ‘CRISIS’ late

• Unreliable & poor quality water supply

NOT ALL IS BAD NEWS

Although Slow ,

Changes are Happening!

Thank You!

IUWM is an Integrated & Sustainable Model for Water Management

GOVERNANCEPolicy, Administration,

Community Participation

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Water ResourcesSurface sources,

Ground water sources

Water SuppliesReliable, equitable

SanitationToilet facilities, Solid waste management

Storm Water DrainsInfrastructure,maintenance

WastewaterDomestic, Industrial

Regional domain

City domain