2010
Feng Yang
Development of Water Industry & Technology in Singapore
— An Overview
By Feng Yang
1
Contents
Section Page
Executive Summary 2
Introduction 3
Policy Strategy 4
Water Supply Strategy – Four Taps 4
Water Conservation Strategy 5
Public Funding & Incentives 7
Infrastructure 10
Government Agencies 10
Private Sectors 11
University/Polytechnic Research Centres 14
Networks & Events 18
Analysis 19
Conclusion 23
By Feng Yang
2
Executive Summary
Among all the environmental problems, finding sustainable solutions for the water problem
has now become vital and urgent all over the world. Singapore has been attracting many
global water players to take Singapore as R&D and commercialization base for innovative
water technologies. As Singapore targets to become the ‘Global Hydrohub’, the current
development of water technology in Singapore is considered to be noteworthy. An overview
is presented in this report.
National Strategies
To tackle the water challenge, the Singapore Government is optimizing and integrating the
existing water resources as well as creating new resources and recycling the sewage to
maintain a sustainable environment, such as increasing water supplies (expanding
catchments), reclaiming used water (NEWater) and desalting seawater (desalination).
Funding & Investment Support
The Singapore Government has identified the environment and water technologies sector as
a key strategic growth area since 2006. To accelerate the growth of environment and water
industry, the government has initiated quite a few funding and incentive schemes. An S$330
million investment has been committed over five years to promote research and
development in this field since 2006.
As the strong commitment from the Singapore Government to develop the water industry,
coupled with the easy availability of skilled manpower and the strong enforcement of
intellectual property rights regulations, more global players in water industry have invested
in Singapore in recent years. GE water & process technologies, for instance, has started
investing S$150 million over the following 10 years since 2009 and has launched a R&D
centre with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
R&D Institutions
In just three years, a robust R&D eco-system has emerged, with 15 private R&D setups, an
EWT Centre of Innovation housed in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and five public research
institutes established in NUS and NTU, namely the Residues and Resource Reclamation
Centre, DHI-NTU Water and Environment Research Centre and Education Hub, the
Singapore Membrane Technology Centre housed in NEWRI, the Singapore-Delft Water
Alliance (SDWA) set up by NUS, and the newly established Advanced Environmental
Biotechnology Centre in NTU.
By Feng Yang
3
Singapore International Water Week
Many networks and collaborations are established locally and internationally to facilitate
the development of environment and water industry. The annually held event, Singapore
International Water Week since 2008, provides a platform to spot opportunities and
challenges in the environment and water industry. Singapore is playing a leading role in this
event.
Introduction
Global demand for water is expected to
reach 870 billion cubic metres by 2030 from
313 billion cubic metres. Unless decisive
steps are taken, nearly half the world’s
population could be living in areas of high
water stress by 2030 as a result of
population increase and climate change.
Singapore is leveraging its long-standing
experience and strong R&D capabilities in
tackling one of the biggest challenges in the
21st century – access to clean water. Since it
intensified efforts to develop the water
industry in 2006, Singapore has made strong
gains to create and provide innovative water
technologies and solutions for the global
market and transform itself into a ‘Global
Hydrohub’.
At a Glance
Singapore has allocated nearly S$700 million in Cleantech industry including
Environment and Water Sector.
More than 70 water companies are located in Singapore, such as GE Water, Siemens
Water, Black & Veatch, Delft Hydraulics, Nitto Denko and Hyflux.
The Environment and Water sector is expected to contribute S$ 1.7 billion to
Singapore’s GDP (0.6% of GDP) and employ 11,000 professionals and skilled personnel
by 2015.
BOX 1:
“Singapore has invested heavily in
technology since the 1970s to clean up
our river sand to ensure a sustainable and
diversified water supply. Today, Singapore
is known internationally for its strong
capabilities in water management and is
recognized as a leading adopter of new
water technologies, especially in the area
of membrane applications. Indeed,
Singapore is the world’s largest user of
membranes per capita, and a pioneer and
leader in large-scale water reclamation.”
Dr Tony Tan
Chairman
National Research Foundation
By Feng Yang
4
Policy Strategy
As its growing population and economy exert pressure on the demands of quality water
resources, Singapore has been dedicating to ensuring its sustainability in water solutions.
Water Supply Strategy - Four Taps
Tap #1: Local Catchment
The First ‘tap’ consists of an integrated
system of 14 reservoirs and an extensive
drainage system to channel storm water
into the local reservoirs and to minimize
flooding of the island during heavy rains.
About 2/3 of the island area is used as
water catchments upon the completion
of Marina Reservoir and the first phase of
the Seletar-Serangoon Reservoir. mgd = millions gallon per day
Tap #2: Imported Water
To supplement the local water supply, Singapore has been importing water from Malaysia
under two water agreements, and the second water agreements expires in 2061.
Tap #3: Desalinated Water
Being an island state, Singapore has been tracking innovations in desalination of water
(converting saltwater into freshwater) for some years. This technology has now become an
affordable option relying on the technological innovation. One of the world’s largest
desalination plants in Tuas was built by Singapore-based water-treatment firm Hyflux in
January 2004. The S$ 200 million plant can meet up to 10% of Singapore’s daily water needs
at one of the cheapest rates in the world.
Tap #4: Reclaimed Water
Singapore has been able to reclaim large volumes of used water through advanced
membrane technologies to further treat the effluent from Water Reclamation Plants (WRPs)
to a potable standard since 2002. The end-product of water reclamation is NEWater.
By Feng Yang
5
NEWater has been used mainly for industrial and commercial sectors by blending it with
reservoir water for indirect portable purposes. Good quality NEWater is consistently
produced at the Bedok, Kranji, Seletar and Ulu Pandan NEWater factories. To meet
increasing NEWater demand, a NEWater factory has been planned at Changi to recycle used
water being channelled to the Changi Water Reclamation Plant via the Deep Tunnel
Sewerage System in the eastern Singapore.
Water Conservation Strategy This strategy has worked well as the Singapore per capita domestic water consumption has
decreased from 176 litres per day in 1994 to 157 litres per day in 2007. The target is set to
lower the per capita domestic water consumption to 155 litres per day by 2012.
To achieve this target, the water conservation programmes along with the roll-out of new
initiatives have been launched to ensure that the water resources are effectively utilized.
Public Education and Publicity Programmes (to increase the awareness of saving water)
10-Litre Challenge (to challenge every Singaporean to save 10 litres of water a day)
Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (to encourage the infiltration of more water-efficient
products into the market)
BOX 2: NEWater
While NEWater is used mainly for non-potable industrial and commercial use, such as
wafer fabrication, it is also an important supplement to our potable water supply. PUB
adds 3 mgd of NEWater to the rain water collected in our reservoirs, a process that is also
used in the United States to naturalise reclaimed water. This currently constitutes about
1% of total potable water consumption, a level which will increase progressively to about
2.5% by 2011.
NEWater is ultra-clean, a fact confirmed by a battery of more than 30,000 scientific tests.
Not only does it exceed WHO requirements, it is also cheaper than desalination and
provides a sustainable and environment friendly way to quench the increasing demand
for water. With the introduction of NEWater, Singapore's water supply has become more
robust and resilient.
By Feng Yang
6
Using Water Wisely
Unaccounted-for-water (UFW) is the difference between the amount of water produced and
the total amount of water accounted for. UFW can be attributed to leaks and inherent
meter errors.
With commitment and the right resources, Singapore Public Utility Board (PUB) has over the
years come up with a comprehensive water conservation plan to tackle UFW and urge
consumers to use water efficiently.
Educating the public to make every drop
count;
Pricing water to reflect its strategic
importance and scarcity value;
Making water-saving devices mandatory
in commercial and industrial premises and
in the common areas of all private
apartments and condominiums;
Encouraging owners to run water-
efficient homes and buildings;
Conducting water audits for large
customers that consume more than 5,000
cubic metres per month;
Encouraging industries to use alternative
sources such as NEWater, industrial water
or seawater;
Legislative measures to deter water
wastage and unauthorised water usage.
BOX 3: Water-Efficient Building
PUB encourages building owners to run
water-efficient buildings (WEBs) by
reviewing and reducing their water
consumption and repairing leaking
fittings promptly. By the end 2007, more
than 1,100 buildings/premises, including
government-owned buildings like ENV
Building, URA Building, MOE HQ, DSTA
Tower, etc., have joined the WEB
programme, putting in place water-
saving devices in these buildings. In 2008,
PUB embarked on a ‘10% Challenge’
programme to challenge the non-
domestic customers to reduce their
water consumption.
By Feng Yang
7
Sewerage Infrastructure
The key to managing Singapore’s water
quality is its comprehensive sewerage
system. The sewerage system serves
all industrial estates and almost 100%
of residential premises in Singapore.
The system ensures that all used water
is collected and treated rather than
randomly released into the
environment to protect public health,
satisfy the basic needs for modern
sanitation, enable the conversion of used water into NEWater, and protect the marine
environment.
Table 1: An Overview of Water Resource Management of Singapore (2009)
Source: Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
Water Resource Management Unit 2007 2008 2009
Sup
ply
No. of reservoirs in Singapore - 14 15 15
Sales of Potable water in Singapore
- Domestic Mil m3 264.2 271.4 277.8
- Non-domestic Mil m3 191.3 191.2 190.1
Sales of NEWater Mil m3 49.2 66.0 72.0
Sales of Industrial Water Mil m3 29.3 23.7 21.9
Volume of used water treated Mil m3 536.2 516.0 515.5
Acc
ess Improved drinking water sources % access 100 100 100
Improved sanitation % access 100 100 100
Syst
em E
ffic
ien
cy Test meeting WHO drinking water quality guidelines % 100 100 100
Unaccounted for water % 4.4 4.4 4.6
No. of leaks per 100km of potable water pipelines - 7 7 7
No. of sewerage disruptions per 1,000km of sewers - 21 19 17
Flood prone areas Hectares 98 79 67
By Feng Yang
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Public Funding & Incentives Singapore is well-known as a clean and green city with the government striving for
environmental sustainability while growing the economy. The government has also
identified Environmental and Water Technologies (EWT) including Clean Energy as strategic
areas where Singapore has a competitive edge and which could generate future economic
growth.
To accelerate the growth of the environmental industry, the government has initiated
several funding and incentive schemes related to water and environmental technologies.
Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
The Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech) is an
initiative by the Environmental and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) and
managed by EDB. The Fast-Tech scheme aims to grow environmental and water start-ups by
providing financial incentives and mentoring by specialized incubators. Funding is provided
up to $500,000 per company or up to 85% of qualifying costs, over two years.
Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
The Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme by the Environmental and Water Industry
Development Council (EWI) aims to accelerate the commercialization of new environment
and water technologies by bringing together both technology vendors and users to apply
jointly under this scheme. Funding is provided up to $2 million or 30% of total qualifying
costs for a technology user.
Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
The Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS) by the Environmental and Water
Industry Development Council (EWI) funds Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), Research
Institutes and Singapore companies to research and develop new environmental and water
technologies (EWT) that lead to significant and sustainable growth opportunities in the EWT
industry. Funding is provided up to 100% for IHLs, public sector agencies and non-profit
research entities, and up to 70% for companies and for-profit research entities.
Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
The Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP) by
SPRING helps local environmental small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their
enterprise competitiveness and industry innovation. The EnviroTech CDP covers applied
By Feng Yang
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research, product development and commercialisation of water & waste water treatment.
Funding is provided for a portion of the project qualifying costs, which include manpower,
equipment, materials, and professional services.
Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS)
The Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS) by SPRING aims to encourage local SMEs to work with
public Knowledge Institutions (KI) like the Centres of Innovation (COIs) to test new
technology and innovative ideas. All SMEs can apply for an innovation voucher worth
S$5,000 from SPRING, which can be redeemed at participating KIs such as the Centre of
Innovation in Environmental and Water Technology (EWT COI) in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, for
advice and to develop new products and processes.
Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
The Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund is managed by NEA and helps
companies to implement innovative environmental projects, such as Unconventional Water
Resources, Water Conservation and Wastewater Treatment & Recycling. The proposed
project must have strong innovation and early adoption elements, and help Singapore
meet its goal of environmental sustainability. The IES Fund provides funding to cover some
of the qualifying cost of the project, up to a maximum of $2 million.
Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
The Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) by PUB encourages companies to be more efficient in
managing their water demand or promote water conservation in the community. For
feasibility studies, PUB will co-fund 50% of the study cost, subject to a cap of $50,000. For
water audits, PUB will co-fund 50% of the water audit cost, subject to a cap of $5,000. For
community campaigns and programmes, PUB will co-fund 50% of organising the programme,
subject to a cap of $5000. Funding is also available for water recycling efforts and use of
alternative source of water.
Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
The Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP) is a new $15 million seed funding
programme by the Environmental and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) and NEA
to build up technological competencies and support companies and researchers in waste
management.
The ETRP awards grants to R&D projects on waste management such as energy recovery,
materials recovery and special waste treatment, and is open to researchers from Institutes
of Higher Learning (IHLs), public sector agencies, not-for-profit research organizations and
Singapore-registered companies. The maximum funding for each project is up to $2 million
and for a maximum of 3 years.
By Feng Yang
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Infrastructure
A number of Singapore government agencies, private sectors and university/polytechnic
research centres have provided support for research and development of sustainability of
environmental and water technology in Singapore, such as funding and incentive scheme,
research and technical support, business development and commercialization, international
networks and exhibitions.
Government Agencies
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR)
MEWR is committed to providing Singaporeans with a quality living environment. Over the
past few years, MEWR has managed to overcome its water challenges through its integrated
water resource management, investment in research and technology, and the
encouragement of community involvement in water management.
Public Utility Board (PUB)
As the national water agency under MEWR, PUB is responsible for the collection, production,
distribution and reclamation of water in Singapore.
Collection: Rainwater is collected and stored in 15 reservoirs that are linked by
pipelines so that excess water can be pumped from one reservoir to another, thus
optimizing storage capacity.
Production: Raw water is then piped to the waterworks for treatment.
Distribution: After treatment, the water is stored in covered reservoirs before being
distributed to customers
BOX 4: Key Targets of MEWR
Increase catchment areas from 50% to 67% of Singapore’s land surface
Increase supply of water from non-conventional sources such as desalination and
water reclamation to at least 25% of Singapore’s water demand
Ensure that water quality continues to meet international standards
Partner the 3P sectors to generate greater awareness of the importance of
conserving, valuing and enjoying water and develop a sense of shared ownership of
our water resources.
By Feng Yang
11
Reclamation: Used water is also regarded as a resource which is further purified using
advanced technology (such as membrane technology) to produce high-grade reclaimed
water, NEWater.
PUB has started to support the Environment and Water Industry Development Council by
facilitating water-related R&D work in 2006. Its R&D work is centred about the water loop
and focusing on the technology areas such as Membrane technology, Used Water Treatment,
and Intelligent Watershed Management.
Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI)
The Environment & Water Industry
Development Council (EWI) was set up
administratively in May 2006 by the
Ministry of the Environment and Water
Resources (MEWR) to spearhead the
development of the environment and
water industry in Singapore. The $330
million funding for over five years was
committed to promote R&D and manpower
capabilities for local environment and
water industry.
Many government entities and agents are
involved in EWI including Public Utilities
Board (PUB), National Environment Agency
(NEA), Agency for Science, Technology &
Research (A*STAR), International Enterprise
(IE) Singapore, Nanyang Technological
University (NTU) and National University of
Singapore (NUS).
BOX 5: EWI has been dedicated to
Launching environment and water research
program (Incentive for Research &
Innovation Scheme)
Strengthening international R&D linkages
(the American Water Works Association,
Kiwa Water Research and Delft Hydraulics)
Bring up test-bedding opportunities for
Singapore (22 projects committed since
2006, such as Memstill project)
Encouraging early adoption of technologies
(TechPioneer scheme targeting to
accelerate the commercialization of new
environment and water technologies
through early technology adoption)
Bringing new technology to the market
(Fast-Track Environmental and Water
Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
Grooming talented and manpower (NRF
EWT PhD Scholarships)
By Feng Yang
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Companies
There have been quite a few international private companies taking Singapore as their R&D
and technology transfer headquarters in recent years. Some key players in the field of
Environmental and Water Industry are listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Key EWI Companies in Singapore
Nitto Denko
It is the first Japanese enterprise to set up a R&D Centre dedicated to water
treatment in Singapore
The Singapore-base centre develops membrane technology for water reuse and
desalination
Marmon Water
US-based Marmon water produces filtration systems and components for residential
water treatment market
An investment of S$24 million is secured for the new 3,500 square metres plat in
Singapore
A joint-venture R&D centre has been established with Hyflux for water products
GE Water & Process Technologies
GE has started investing S$150 million since 2009 over the next decade to establish a
Global Water R&D Centre at the University of Singapore
100 top-tier researchers will engage in the R&D centre activities including water
treatment and system integration, fundamental chemical and membrane applications
to ion-exchange technology
Siemens Water Technologies
Siemens has set up a S$50 million Global Water Technology Research Centre in
Singapore
60 researchers are working in such Siemens Water Technologies’ global R&D
headquarters
Pall Corporation
A global fluid management company specializing in filtration, separation and
purification technologies
US$0.6 billion investment was consolidated for Asian-Pacific operations by
By Feng Yang
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establishing its International Headquarters in Singapore
Black & Veatch
A leading engineering design and consultancy company with the core expertise in
water industry
The 120-staff International Headquarters is located in Singapore managing its Asian-
Pacific operations
A Global Advanced Water Design Centre and a Centre of Excellence in Desalination
was launched in 2007
Singapore will be the only development centre providing advanced conceptual
engineering design services aside from their headquarters in Kansas City
Hyflux
One of Asia’s largest membrane-based seawater desalination plant in Singapore will
supply 10% of the country’s water needs
More than 100 researchers are now working in its water R&D Centre
The world’s largest membrane desalination plant with capacity of 500,000 m3 per day
is being built in Algeria
Hyflux has been awarded a S$36 million project by PUB to design and build
Singapore’s largest membrane bioreactor (MBR) plat with a designed capacity of
68,000m3 per day
Keppel Corporation
Keppel established a 27-staff Environmental Technology Centre (KETC) in 2007 to
spearhead R&D efforts in water industry in Singapore
KETC is collaborating with Singapore Refining companies to build a demonstration
plant to produce desalinated water using waste heat
This Singapore-grown industry conglomerate is taking the lead in developing the Sino-
Singapore Eco-City in Tianjin, China
Boustead Salcon
This Singapore grown-company in water & environmental engineering has extensive
technical expertise in system design and project management and has built more than
800 projects worldwide
Its expertise consists of municipal / industrial water & wastewater infrastructure,
energy and waste recovery infrastructure, power generation, geography mapping
solutions and operations & maintenance.
By Feng Yang
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Dayan Environmental Limited
A leading environmental engineering company specializes in the provision of
integrated systems and solutions for waste and water treatment.
A number of ongoing involved projects shows its strength in EWI both in Singapore and overseas, such as M&E works for Marina Raw Water Pumping Station, Punggol–Serangoon Reservoir Scheme, Expansion of Water Treatment Plant (II) in Cambodia, and Johor River Waterworks Plants A & B
Toray Industries
A leading Japanese enterprise, the world’s largest producer of carbon fibre,
established a R&D centre in Singapore, focused on water treatment technologies
Toray is collaborating with Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute
(NEWRI) to develop advanced membrane technologies
The company plans to expand its research group to 30 staffs in the R&D centre over
the next five years.
CH2M HILL
A global leader in engineering consulting, construction, and operations delivers
sustainable solutions to regional water industry in Singapore
It provides programme management services to support PUB’S S$6.8 billion
wastewater deep-tunnel conveyance and treatment system programme, which will
help meet infrastructure needs for the next 40 years upon completion in 2016.
It helps PUB design and build NEWater plants and visitor centre in Bedok, Kranji,
Seletar and changi
Source: Economic Development Board
University/Polytechnic Research Centres
Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI)
Officially launched in Mar 2008, the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute
(NEWRI) located at the University of Nanyang Technological was set up as a culmination of
the university's efforts in environmental & water technologies, and to serve as a one-stop
centre for industry and research partners to access NTU's capabilities. The NEWRI
Ecosystem facilitates a contiguous value chain in terms of research, translation,
development, and application so that research can reach and benefit industry with greater
frequency.
By Feng Yang
15
The research centres and groups in NEWRI with their research strengths are summarized
below.
Residues & Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C)
Research Key Words: Resource Recovery, Contaminated Sites Remediation, Carbon Credits
Trading
Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC)
Research Key Words: Membrane Distillation Bioreactor, Integrity Sensor Systems, Reverse
Osmosis Systems
DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre & Education Hub (DHI-NTU Centre)
Research Key words: Catchment and Reservoir Management, Water Distribution Systems,
Waste Water Collection Systems, Wastes Management, Treatment Systems, Environmental
Impact Assessment, Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Modelling
Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Group (AEBG)
Research Key Words: Biogranulation, Biofilm Formation, Granular Membrane Bioreactor
(GMBR)
Environmental Chemistry & Materials Group (ECMG)
Research Key Words: Nanomaterials as treatment chemicals, functionalized membranes,
photo-catalytic system, Layered Double Hydroxides, Arsenic Removal
Lien Institute for the Environment (LIFE)
Research Key Words: Lien Foundation, Philanthropic Activities, Community Awareness,
Education, Eldercare, Environmental Suitability
Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (iESE)
Research Key Words: Commercialization, Spin-Off, Market Intelligent Property
Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre (AEBC)
The Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre (AEBC) was newly officially launched on
10 May 2010. AEBC seeks to address issues on water production, water and wastewater
purification, reduce energy usage in these processes and in the reclamation of used water,
and aims to reduce the cost, time and energy by 10 to 50 percent to produce clean water
and to treat wastewater.
This S$21 million centre is jointly set up by Singapore Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) and Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW), and supported by Singapore's
Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Environment & Water Industry Programme
Office (EWI).
By Feng Yang
16
AEBC is the latest facility to be launched under NEWRI and will be supported by eight core
researchers and nine research fellows when fully operational. The Centre also plans to train
26 graduate students for the water industry by 2015.
NUS Environment Research Institute (NERI)
The National University of Singapore set up the NUS Environment Research Institute (NERI)
to draw together environment & water technology expertise from across the university. One
of the centres, the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA), has been set up by NUS, PUB
and Delft Hydraulics, a Netherlands-based international research and specialist consultancy
firm.
SDWA focuses on applications to all areas of integrated water management, and especially
to river basins, aquifers, urban water systems, estuaries, and coastal waters. It provides
advice using integrated data collection, modelling and decision support systems to different
demand groups such as farmers and flood or drought prone communities as well as
contractors or operators. SDWA research strengths are shown through the highlight
programmes below.
MHBox
Research Key Words: Hydrodynamic Modelling, Adaptive Weather Modelling
Peatland
Research Key Words: Peatland Management, Soil and Carbon Emission, Ecology and
Biodiversity, Remote Sensing (Satellite) Techniques
Centre for Aquatic Science Research – Pandan
Research Key Words: Nutrient Metabolite & Pollutant Cycling, Ecosystem Functioning &
Ecological Modelling, Bio-based Environmental Monitoring, Biomaterial Screening, Bio-
geochemical Analysis, Hydraulics & Catchment Hydrology
Multireservior
Research Key Words: Weather Forecasting Model, Quantitative Precipitation Estimations
(QPE), Ground Monitoring Stations, Rainfall-Runoff Process Simulation, Process Emulation,
Reservoir System Integrated Control
Coral Seagrass & Mangrove
Research Key Words: Nutrient Cycling, Pollutant Capture, Carbon Sequestration, Fisheries,
Biodiversity, Remote Sensing, Flume Studies, Hydrodynamic Modelling (Delft3D), Sustainable
Costal Defence
Sediment
Research Key Words: Sediment Sources, Coastal Ecosystems, Satellite Imagery Ground-
Referencing Modelling
By Feng Yang
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Upper Peirce
Research Key Words: Hydrodynamic Processes, Ecological Process, Water Quality
Monitoring and Modelling, Lake/Reservoir Management and Restoration
NUS – GE Singapore Water Technology Centre
GE Water, a business unit of GE Energy,
and the National University of Singapore
(NUS) announced the establishment of
the NUS-GE Singapore Water Technology
Centre on the campus of NUS in March
2009. With S$150 million investment
from GE and NUS, the centre will house
GE scientists and engineers developing
new solutions for low-energy seawater
desalination, water reclamation and more
efficient water reuse. This collaboration
expedites fundamental research and
industry innovation in water treatment.
GE Water and Singapore have been
working together in delivering effective
water solutions. GE's ZeeWeedTM hollow
fibre ultrafiltration membrane technology
is used to produce high-quality reclaimed
water from treated wastewater at the
Bedok NEWater plant and the nation's
first large-scale membrane bioreactor
plant at Ulu Pandan. Two important
drinking water plants, Chestnut Avenue
Water Works and Choa Chu Kang Water Works also use GE ultrafiltration membranes to
purify water for potable use.
The ZeeWeed membrane bioreactor (MBR) process is a GE technology that consists of a
suspended growth biological reactor integrated with an ultrafiltration membrane system,
using the ZeeWeed hollow fibre membrane. Essentially, the ultrafiltration system replaces
the solids separation function of secondary clarifiers and sand filters in a conventional
activated sludge system.
BOX 6: ZeeWeed Membrane Bioreactor Key
Features and Benefits
Physical Ultrafiltration (UF) Barrier
produces a high quality effluent suitable
for direct reuse
Unmatched Fibre Ruggedness ensures a
longer membrane life in harsh
wastewater operating environments
Hollow Fibre Geometry provides a
greater filtration surface area reducing
plant footprint and effectively
distributing cleaning solutions
Effective Backpulse Cleaning maintains
long-term performance and provides a
simple, rapid method of recovery
Automated in-situ cleaning simplifies
system operation and maintenance
while reducing operating cost
“Self-healing” fibres mean no
catastrophic membrane failures
By Feng Yang
18
Centre of Innovation Environmental & Water Technology (COI-EWT)
The Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS) launched by SPRING Singapore in March 2009 aims to
encourage small medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting technology to develop their
innovative ideas with the support of public knowledge institutions (KIs). COI-EWT in Ngee
Ann Polytechnic is a participating Centre of Innovation in KIs providing R&D expertise and
resources in environmental and water technology to local SMEs enterprise.
The centre has set up a dedicated team of Applications Engineers with extensive multi-
disciplinary expertise in the area of
Water and Waste Water Technology: Engineering Design & Innovation, Performance
Evaluation Treatment
Waste Management: Resource Conversion, Recycling & Reuse
Pollution Control: Sustainable Energy, Energy Management, Energy Auditing
Clean Energy: Monitoring System Development & Enhancement, Pollutant Detection
& Characterisation
COI-EWT has already initiated quite a few applied R&D, consultancy and product
development projects since its operation in Nov 2006 to support local SMEs. The
collaboration area with SMEs can be solution-based applied research, energy management,
computer simulation & rapid prototyping, product development & enhancement, proof of
concept/value, patent search for technology adoption, pilot plant design and system
integration, technology feasibility research, 3rd party assessment of system performance.
Centre for Applications in Environmental Technology (CAET)
The Centre for Applications in Environmental Technology (CAET) is one of Technology and
Innovation Centres in Singapore Polytechnic (SP) in the development of applications in
environmental technology. CAET is an institutional member of Singapore Water Association
(SWA) and Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS).
This centre focuses on translational research and product development. Its
commercialization activities are based on the projects in prototyping, pilot testing and test-
bedding. Water Technology is one of the key strategic areas in CAET together with
Environmental & Recycling and Clean Energy.
CAET’s water technology related projects include:
Reliable Intermittent Waste Water Quality Monitoring System
Waste Concrete Reclamation & Wastewater Recycling In Concrete Batching Plant
Water Sampler: Water Sampler for PUB’s Active, Beautiful and Clean River Programme
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Rainwater Harvesting from Rooftops
Reliable Continuous Fluid Quality Monitoring System
Low Altitude Aerial Survey System to Record Short to Medium Term Changes in Coastal Habitat and Geomorphology
Development of a Sludge Dewatering System
Networks & Events
Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS)
Established in August 2001, the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore
(WMRAS) aims to promote business networking opportunities amongst members. To foster
information exchange, the Association has organized regular dialogue sessions with relevant
authorities to keep members updated on the regulatory and policies developments.
As there have long been questions on the quality and performance of the recycled products
due to a lack of accepted specifications, standards and understanding of the recycling
processes, WMRAS initiated the accreditation scheme for Recycled Aggregate Supplier. This
scheme aims to improve the quality and consistency of the waste processors and managed
by WMRAS.
Singapore Water Association (SWA)
The Singapore Water Association (SWA) dedicates to promote Singapore as a one-stop
centre for all water-related technology and services hub. The Association aims to provide a
forum for collaboration and communication of ideas, knowledge, new technologies and
business opportunities among members.
SWA as an association also actively participate in foreign conferences and seminars,
showcasing Environment and Water Industry of Singapore at exhibitions and trade shows
and collaboration with other water bodies worldwide. SWA serves as an important network
linking node for members to the international water network.
Singapore International Water Week (SIWW)
The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is a global platform for sustainable water
solutions taking place annually since 2008. It brings together policymakers, industry leaders,
experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover business
opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
By Feng Yang
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The premier event this year (Jun 28 – 2 Jul 2010) will host more than 450 participating
companies from all over the world. The event’s flagship programmes comprise:
Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize (outstanding contributions towards solving global water
problems)
Water Leaders Summit (solution-focused dialogue on critical water governance,
technology and business)
Water Convention (industrial experts, practitioners, researchers and academics to
share the latest advances and challenges in the water industry)
Water Expo (technology showcase)
Business Forum (business networking, partnership formation, deal-making opportunity,
industry trends and policies)
Analysis
This report gives a general picture of current development of environment and water
industry in Singapore from the aspects of national strategies, government support, private
investment, R&D infrastructure, networks and global collaboration as an overview
investigation.
1. The Reservoir Integration Scheme optimizes the storage capacity and enhances the
local catchment yield as excess water can be channelled from one reservoir to another.
Great care, however, has to be taken in terms of the environmental consequences, such
as biodiversity.
2. It is very costly to import water from Malaysia (estimated total cost more than S$ 1
billion since 1961). When the 1962 Water Agreement with Malaysia expires in 2062,
Singapore is able to be self-sufficient in water with the supplement of NEWater and
desalinated water.
3. NEWater is produced through the multiple barrier process. For indirect portable use
(IPU), the volume of NEWater IPU increases steadily and is expected to be 10 million
gallons per day by 2011. It was hard to convince wafer fabrication industry of using
NEWater before, although 20% savings was proved after adopting NEWater. Convincing
Singaporeans that NEWater is safe for consumption, however, is still needed.
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4. Various initiatives by PUB to reduce pipe leaks in the water conveying network has
resulted in Singapore having one of the lowest unaccounted-for-water (UFW) rate in the
world (~5%). A cost-effective network and sustainable leak management system is very
important as this defers the need for investment in new capacity in the long run.
5. Water related government funding in Singapore is mainly from EDB, NEA, SPRING, PUB
and EWI (Table 3). EWI plays an important role as it has the most funding schemes (4
out of 8 funding schemes and 2 of which are co-funding). Almost all funding sources
focus on R&D (5 out of 8 funding schemes) and commercialization (4 out of 8 funding
schemes) of water technology. It is noteworthy that local SMEs in environment and
water industry can seek funding and incentive support from SPRING through EnviroTech
CDP and IVS scheme.
These funding and incentive schemes covers public sectors, non-profit research entities,
for-profit research entities and private companies, evidently showing great supports of
the Singapore Government for the fundamental research, technology innovation and
commercialization in water technology industry.
6. Local companies, such as Hyflux and Keppel Corporation, have demonstrated their
technology strength in environment and water industry and have started exporting
technology overseas. Hyflux is building the world’s largest membrane desalination plant
with capacity of 500,000 m3 per day in Algeria, while Keppel Corporation is taking the
lead in developing the Sino-Singapore Eco-City in Tianjin, China.
7. On the other hand, 15 private R&D centres have been set up in Singapore including
many global companies, like Nitto Denko, Marmon Water, GE, Siemens, Black & Veatch
and Toray Industry. Among these companies, Pall Corporation and Black & Veatch have
chosen Singapore to set up their Asian-Pacific Headquarters.
Several collaborations between international private companies and local companies or
research entities have been established, such as a) Marmon Water – Hyflux, b) GE
Water – NUS, and c) Toray Industry – NEWRI (NTU). The international industrial tie-up
strongly depends on the existing and ongoing research strength and sources of
Singapore in EWI and such international R&D collaboration will accelerate the transition
of Singapore to become the global water technology hub in the near future.
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Table 3: Summary of Government Funding and Incentive Schemes
Funding Funding Body Funding Area Funding Amount
WEF PUB Water Efficiency
Feasibility Study: Co-fund 50%, cap of S$50,000; Water Audits: Co-fund 50%, cap of S$ 5000; Community Programmes: Co-fund 50%, cap of S$5000
Fast-Tech EWI/EDB Commercialization Up to S$500,000 per company or 85% qualifying costs, over 2 years
Tech Pioneer EWI Commercialization UP to S$2 million or 30% of qualifying costs for technology user
IRIS EWI R&D
Up to 100% project funding support for public sectors and non-profit research entities, and up to 70% for companies and for-profit research entities.
EnviroTech CDP
SPRING R&D
Commercialization N.A.
IVS SPRING R&D
Commercialization Training
Innovation voucher worth S$5000 per company, up to 10 SMEs
IES NEA R&D Up to S$2 million
ETRP EWI/NEA R&D A seed funding of S$15 million, up to S$2 million per project for maximum 3 years
Government Agency Funding and Incentive Schemes
Economic Development Board (EDB) Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
National Environment Agency (NEA) Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
SPRING Singapore (SPRING)
PUB, the national water agency (PUB) Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
Environment & Water Industry Development Council (EWI)
Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS)
Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
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8. Concerning water related R&D entities in Singapore, currently, there are
a) Four public research centres in NTU (Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre,
DHI-NTU, Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Advanced Environmental
Biotechnology Centre under NEWRI)
b) One public research centre in NUS (Singapore-Delft Water Alliance)
c) One joint-built centre with GE Water in NUS(NUS-GE Singapore Water Technology
Centre)
d) One Centre of Innovation in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Centre of Innovation in
Environment & Water Technology)
e) One technology and innovation centre in Singapore Polytechnic (Centre for
applications in Environmental Technology).
9. All research entities have their own research emphasis in water technology.
a) Research centres in NEWRI mainly focus on membrane technology, water management, environmental biotechnology and environmental chemistry.
b) Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) has the research strength in hydrodynamic process and modelling, water quality monitoring and management, Ecosystem Functioning & Ecological Modelling and remote sensing techniques.
c) Scientists and engineers in NUS-GE centre have expertise in developing new solutions for low-energy seawater desalination, water reclamation and more efficient water reuse.
d) COI-EWT in Ngee Ann Polytechnic provides solutions for local SMEs in the area of Water and Waste Water Technology, Waste Management, Pollution Control, Clean Energy.
10. Sludge Management and Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are expected to be two of the
research trends in the coming years in Singapore. Proper treatment and disposal of
sludge (the solid by-product of used water treatment) is essential to avoid
contamination to the environment, and the bio-energy generated from sludge
treatment process makes the energy self-sufficiency in waste water treatment possible.
Promisingly, a single-stage MBR can replace several conventional existing processes,
like microfiltration pre-treatment, to produce high quality effluent without the need for
additional filters. This technology results in a significant reduction in total retention
time, improved effluent quality and cost savings.
11. Since the inauguration in 2008, Singapore International Water Week has become a
premier international yearly event for the Environment and Water Industry, which
shows the enhancing status of Singapore in water industry.
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Conclusion
An over view of current development of water national strategy, water industry and water
technology in Singapore is briefly presented in this report, which is discussed from a more
industrial and technological point of view. Due to the lack of substantial statistic data, more
specific analysis is not available, such as the comparison of industrial development between
Singapore and other water industry leading countries. Therefore, further investigation is
necessary in future.
From this report, however, it can obviously be seen that a fairly substantial base has been
built up to develop the Environment and Water Industry in Singapore in terms of strategic
policy, R&D environment and international collaborations, and the Government continues
to provide solid support to accelerate the growth of the industry, such as the 8 funding and
incentive schemes launched recently (Table 3) and the yearly event “Singapore International
Water Week”.
A series of challenges, however, is needed to be paid attention to during the process of
development. Environmental consequences are the most concerns, such as the potential
ecological problems induced by changing the morphology of reservoirs, and the proper
treatment of the by-product (sludge) of water reclamation. It’s rather unwise to introduce
new environmental concerns while solving the existing environmental problems. Not the
least, strengthening the public awareness of water conservation and convincing the public
acceptance of reclaimed water are challenges for policy makers and community workers.
It can be foreseen that, by riding the wave of water industry and maintaining a sustainable
development strategy, Singapore will become the ‘Global Hydrohub’ in no time.