Singapore finds comprehensive approaches to water security

DW reveals that Singapore has emerged as a global leader in innovative water management strategies in the face of significant water scarcity.

With a population of six million, Singapore is a vibrant, multicultural, and prosperous city-state. It ranks among the top five richest countries in the world and serves as a global hub for finance and trade. The city is known for its cleanliness and green spaces, featuring numerous parks with fountains, ponds, and canals.

However, lacking natural freshwater sources, Singapore faces significant water stress, making it one of the most water-scarce regions globally. Despite this challenge, Singapore has effectively addressed the growing water demands of its expanding population and economy, emerging as a global leader in water management over the past few decades. Peter Gleick, a hydrologist and founder of the Pacific Institute, a US-based NGO focused on water issues, notes that Singapore’s achievements are not due to "magic." Instead, they stem from a "soft path" approach that emphasizes efficient water use and innovative sourcing rather than relying solely on hard infrastructure. Historically, Singapore has faced water shortages, enduring challenges during British colonial rule, World War II, and the post-war period, marked by floods, poor sanitation, and water rationing. 

Upon gaining independence in 1965, the nation shifted its focus to self-sufficiency in water, food, and energy. Cecilia Tortajada, a professor of Environmental Innovation at the University of Glasgow, explains that Singapore's government developed a comprehensive master plan that has evolved to create four key sources of water supply, referred to as "national taps." These include imported water, desalination, local catchment, and 'NEWater.' Notably, Singapore secured a fresh water supply from neighboring Malaysia through two agreements established in the 1960s. Even today, millions of liters of river water—approximately half of Singapore's total water demand—are transported daily through pipelines from across the border.

However, Malaysia has threatened to halt these deliveries and increase prices, leading to recurring tensions that, at times, have escalated to warnings of military conflict, as seen in 2002. In light of these challenges, Singapore aims to cease water imports by 2061, necessitating increased efficiency from its remaining three water sources. "Water planning is crucial," said Jon Marco Church, a water management expert at the United Nations. "The goal of this master plan is to maximize every drop of water." This involves maintaining clean canals and drains, investing billions in water collection and treatment, and utilizing alternative sources like seawater. 

Currently, five desalination plants supply up to 25 per cent of Singapore's water needs. These state-of-the-art facilities, designed to resemble parks, are situated underground in the city's center and serve dual purposes of purification and desalination. In recent decades, Singapore has been instrumental in advancing desalination technology, aiming to increase its capacity to meet 30 per cent of the nation’s water requirements by 2060. However, achieving full self-sufficiency remains a distant goal, necessitating alternative water sources. Two-thirds of Singapore's land area is dedicated to rainwater storage. 

Rainwater from rooftops is directed through drains into a comprehensive network of rivers, canals, and 17 reservoirs, with the largest being the Marina Barrage. Spanning 10,000 hectares, this facility not only collects fresh water but also functions as a flood defence system. In extreme weather, excess water from reservoirs and canals is diverted into underground tanks, which can later be treated for drinking water. The government aims to utilize 90 per cent of the country's land area for rainwater catchment by 2060.

By Naila Huseynova