SINGAPORE’S PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD (PUB) To support this program, PUB built a Deep Tunnel Sewerage System that centralises sewage collection and treatment, and frees up surface land for other uses. PUB is now experimenting with locating recycling and desalination plants together, so they can use the concentrated brine discards from each plant to generate osmotic power for electricity. As part of a team building day, Ms Swanson accompanied MSD’s development team on a tour of the NEWater plant. They wanted to study the communication and education behind PUB’s successful introduction of reclaimed water to the public. She labelled the plant’s visitors centre as “world class,” saying it not only showed the science, but also provided information on different water resources around the world.
TAP 4 - DESALINATION In 2005 Singapore opened its first desalination plant for production of 30 mgd of drinking water. Singspring Pte, Ltd. designed, built, and will operate the plant for its first 20 years. They built a second plant in 2013 to desalinate 70 mgd of sea water. By 2060 desalinated water should be supplying 25% of Singapore’s water demand. One of the biggest detriments to operating desalination plants in the past has been their excessive use of energy. PUB’s research and development companies are developing new techniques, using electrochemicals, which should cut energy use down by half. One of those companies, Evoqua Water Technologies, is testing and developing two main techniques: The way that mangrove trees and euryhaline fish extract sea water, and what happens when aquaporins are embedded on membranes. Both of these are instances
Quarter 1 2016 - The Sustainable Business Review
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