Proceedings of the International Symposium on Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas


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Session 7: Integrated Approaches for Efficient Water Use -Learning from Case Studies

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR EFFICIENT WATER USE
IN SINGAPORE

George Madhavan, Senior Engineer
Water Department, Public Utilities Board, Singapore

A Introduction

The Republic of Singapore comprises a main island and some 60 smaller islands with a total land area of 648 km². Being a small island nation, Singapore has limited natural resources. In Singapore, 100 per cent of the population is supplied with potable water, which can be consumed straight from the tap.

The Public Utilities Board (PUB) is the national water authority. It was established in 1963 as a statutory authority to take over the functions of production and supply of electricity, water and piped gas from the then City Council. On 1 October 95, PUB’s former electricity and piped gas undertakings were corporatized. PUB remains the water authority and regulator for electricity and piped gas industries. The Water Department of the restructured PUB remains responsible for the provision of an efficient and reliable potable water supply in Singapore at the most economical cost.

B Growing Demand for Water

About half of Singapore's land area is used for water catchment and all available major surface water resources have been developed. Surface run-off is collected in 14 impounding reservoirs, treated at six treatment plants and thereafter distributed through a network of 14 service reservoirs and more than 4,850 km of pipelines to serve the entire population. PUB serves some 1,013,000 water accounts. To augment Singapore's own water resources, about 50 per cent of the water required is imported from the neighbouring State of Johor in West Malaysia.

The rapid industrial, economic and social development of Singapore has resulted in a sharp increase in water demand. In 1950, when the population was a little over 1 million, the demand for potable water was 142,000 m³/day. By 1998, the population had quadrupled but potable water demand had increased ninefold to 1,280,000 m³/day. From 1991 to 1998, water demand grew at about 3.3 per cent per annum.

The per capita consumption of domestic customers grew by an average of 0.4% over the last decade from 161.1 litres/person/day in 1990 to 166.2 litres/person/day in 1998. The non-domestic consumption increased from 399,000m³/day in 1990 to 562,000m³/day in 1998 with an average growth rate of 4.5% over the last decade.

The Singapore Government is actively exploring new and alternative sources of raw water to augment existing sources, including desalination of sea water, but recognizes that water derived from any new source will cost many times more than that from current sources.

C An Integrated Approach

Whilst new and alternative sources can be developed, it makes better economic sense to ensure that the existing water supplies available are used in the most efficient ways. This will reduce water demand and allow current limited resources to be stretched to the fullest extent. To make every drop count, Singapore has adopted an integrated approach for efficient water use. This approach encompasses not only ensuring that PUB’s Network Infrastructure is efficiently operated but also water demand is well managed through measures like water conservation, public education, tariffs and legislation to encourage customers to use water efficiently within their premises. The approaches can be broadly categorised as follows:

Design of Water Reticulation
Metering
Mains Replacement and Rehabilitation
Intensive Leak Detection Programme
Quick Response to Reports of Leaks
Demand Management

I) Design of Water Reticulation

In order to ensure that all customers have a reliable and continuous wholesome water supply, only qualified persons are permitted to carry out the design and installation of water reticulation systems. All applications for water service work must be made through licensed plumbers. Where the work involves the design of a pumping system or storage tank, a professional engineer must also be engaged to make the submission for PUB’s approval before the licensed plumber can proceed with the work. The professional engineers and licensed plumber shall comply with the Singapore Standard – Code of Practice for Water Services and the Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations in their submission and water service installation works. Completed water reticulation systems are inspected and certified by PUB officers prior to turning on of water supply.

Plumbers are licensed by PUB to ensure that good standards of plumbing work are maintained in customers’ premises. There are currently some 800 licensed plumbers whom customers can select to carry out water service work in their premises.

All water pipes and fittings are required to be approved by PUB before they are allowed to be installed and used in customers’ reticulation system. This is to ensure that materials that are put in use are of acceptable standards in design, performance and construction so as to prevent wastage and contamination of water supply.

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