With
the news release “Tuas Nexus – Singapore’s First Integrated Water and Solid
Waste Treatment Facility Begins Construction”, the National Environment Agency
(NEA) (2020) claimed that the aim of the project is to recover any drop of
water used. The used water solution system is formed by the Deep Tunnel
Sewerage System (DTSS). It further explained that Tuas Water Reclamation Plant
(Tuas WRP) can receive used water flows from two separate deep tunnels by
gravity. One tunnel is used to transport domestic water, the other to convey
commercial water of high strength. Sembcorp Architecture and Construction Pte.
Ltd was assigned in March 2020 to construct the biosolids treatment facility
for the plant. Hence, by the end of 2021, another seven-building tender valued
at more than $1 billion will be launched. Finally, phase 2 of the DTSS project
is also listed as, consisting 40 km of deep tunnels, 60 km of connection
sewers, Tuas WRP, and the NEWater integrated factory. In a small country like
Singapore, NEA has been improving by recycling water in the most efficient
manner. I strongly believe that they are moving towards a sustainable and
future-proof country.
To begin, the article “Water Reclamation and Reuse in Singapore” (Kog, 2020) stated that these innovations will allow the future Tuas WRP to be able to be more energy-efficient and double the energy recovery relative to traditional plants while consuming less energy. With a net process energy utilization goal of 0.1 kWh/m3, 2.5 times smaller than a conventional membrane bioreactor, PUB sees the upcoming Tuas WRP as the most energy-efficient membrane bioreactor (MBR). In my opinion, the experience gained in Singapore over the years proves that it is physically and commercially viable to recycle and conserve water. It also explained that it was unsuccessful at the beginning due to the high cost and unproven durability of the technology. However, as technology advances each year, the major source of water supply in Singapore improves and is moving closer to water reclamation methods.
Another article “From R&D to application: Membrane bioreactor technology
for water reclamation” (Water Practice and Technology, 2017) announced that the
Integrated Validation Plant (IVP) and the Demonstration Plant are part of a larger
initiative to develop advanced technologies that can be applied to the
forthcoming Tuas WRP as part of Phase 2 of the DTSS project in Singapore, which
is expected to be completed by 2024. The DTSS is an important part of the
policy of the PUB to address the long-term water reclamation needs of
Singapore. Furthermore, the Tuas WRP is planned to utilize the energy-and
space-efficient MBR-RO (reverse osmosis) method for processing NEWater.
In the last article “Addressing Delhi’s water supply problems: taking lessons
from Singapore’s water management experience” (P. Jain, 2012) revealed that
DTSS is used at two large WRPs, Changi WRP at the eastern end and Tuas WRP at
the western end of Singapore, to centralize wastewater treatment. The South
Tunnel and the North Tunnel are two tunnels that will crisscross the island and
connect to these WRPs. Therefore, this centralization leads to larger economies
of scale and, in the long run, reduces the cost of service.
To sum up, the Singapore NEWater progress story represents the overall
long-term growth policy for Singapore. There is a need to continue improving
water technology and creative reuse schemes in the future, as the value of
water reuse is gaining worldwide awareness to address the water-food-energy
nexus in the light of uncertainties and climate change. By improving land use
and enhancing energy and resource recovery, I feel that the path PUB is moving
towards will help to develop a more environmentally friendly country.
References:
1) National Environmental Agency (NEA). (2020, September 8th). Tuas Nexus -
Singapore’s First Integrated Water and Solid Waste Treatment Facility Begins
Construction.
https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/tuas-nexus-singapore-s-first-integrated-water-and-solid-waste-treatment-facility-begins-construction
2)
Kog. Y. (2020, April 4th). Water Reclamation and Reuse in Singapore.
https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29EE.1943-7870.0001675?casa_token=0JcOv2NrdG0AAAAA%3AcdqwFZIctlp0GmQHy729cjqyQzcWyG_UVaXsoSFmyb3o99BVm0kZ42ejjb2IUI1g-TO230O4aITxwg#tabs
3)
Water Practice and Technology. (2017, March 1st). From R&D to
application: Membrane bioreactor technology for water reclamation.
https://iwaponline.com/wpt/article/12/1/12/20764/From-R-amp-D-to-application-membrane-bioreactor
4) P. Jain. (2012). Addressing Delhi’s water supply problems:
taking lessons from Singapore’s water management experience.
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