George Madhavan
Director, 3P Network
PUB, Singapore’s national water agency
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Country Information
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PUB manages the complete water cycle
stormwater
management
treatment
of
used water
sea
rain
Indirect Potable Use
NEWater
collection
of rainfall
in drains &
reservoirs
desalination
treatment of
raw to potable
water
Direct NonPotable Use
collection
of used water
in sewers
supply of
water to the
population &
industries
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NEWater
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Introduced in 2002
Primarily for industrial and commercial use
Small percentage added to raw water reservoirs
NEWater can meet 30% of Singapore’s current water supply
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Closing the water loop
Kranji
17 mgd
N
Kranji
NF
Woodlands
NEWater SR
Mandai SR
Tampines
NEWater SR
Bedok
18 mgd
Ulu
Pandan
NF
Jurong Hill 65 SR
JIWW
Changi NF
Bedok
NF
Ulu Pandan
Kent
Ridge
32 mgd
NEWater SR
Changi
LEGEND
50 mgd
• NEWater Infrastructure Plan (NIP) and NIP Extension pipeline
projects in progress to meet growing demand in Jurong Island
Pulau
Bukom
• NEWater to meet 50% of water needs by 2060
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INDUSTRIAL WATER PIPELINES
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Quality assurance
• Comprehensive water sampling
and analysis
• Extensive physical, chemical and
microbiological testing
• 300 parameters incorporated;
more than 130,000 analyses
carried out to date
• Independent panel of international
water experts; regular audit and
review of results and plant
operations
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Expert Validation
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Key Challenges
Overturning public’s
psychological fear
and stigma
Focus on treatment
process (advanced
membrane technologies),
instead of source
Mindset change needed to get
public to understand that water
recycling was part of nature
Terminology had
negative connotation
NEWater process speeds up the
natural water cycle
Use terms that better
reflect the process or its
value as a resource
Translate technical
information in a simple,
layman manner through
use of simple diagrams
and familiar objects that
are easy to understand
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Engaging the stakeholders
Communications with stakeholders was key to success of campaign
• Key messages:
– NEWater is a safe and meets WHO drinking water guidelines
– NEWater will make Singapore’s water supply more resilient
Media
Opinion
leaders
Public
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Engaging media as partners
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Endorsement by leaders
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Choice of words
wastewater or sewage
 used water
sewage treatment plant
 water reclamation plant
Reclaimed water
 NEWater
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NEWater Visitor Centre
• Pillar of public education campaign; officially opened in Feb 2003
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Public sampling
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NEWater in 2012
• 300 parameters incorporated; more than 130,000
analyses carried out to date
• 4 NEWater plants can meet 30% of Singapore’s water
needs
• 23 million bottles of NEWater distributed for public
sampling purposes
• NEWater to meet
50% of Singapore’s water demand by
2060.
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http://www.pub.gov.sg
http://www.facebook.com/PUBsg
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