The Economy of Singapore
Water Security: The Four National Taps
With no rivers or lakes to speak of, Singapore built a mix of imported water, local catchment, recycled NEWater and desalination.
Survival once depended on imports from a neighbour.
Imports
Water has long been imported from Malaysia under agreements dating back to 1962.
Four taps
Singapore combines imported water, local catchments, recycled water called NEWater and desalinated seawater.
Pricing
Water is priced to reflect its cost and encourage conservation.
Aim
Reduce dependence on external sources over time.
A recycled drop
Treated wastewater is purified for industrial use and mixed into reservoirs.
Assuming water scarcity is only a geography issue
Policy and technology can respond.
Key takeaways
- Four sources supply water.
- NEWater is recycled.
- Pricing encourages saving.
- Import dependence is being reduced.
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