Water Reclamation and Reuse in Singapore

Abstract

Singapore is a highly water-stressed country, and securing an adequate water supply has always been an important task for the government. Water reclamation and reuse attempted in 1966 were not a success because of the costly and unreliable technology. Fortunately, in 2003, advances in membrane technology enabled water reclamation and reuse to become both technically and economically feasible. Currently, reclaimed water accounts for 40% of the water supply in Singapore and is projected by the government to account for a larger proportion in the future. Some of the lessons learned and issues with the development of water reclamation and reuse in Singapore are briefly discussed.