Singapore bid to become global water hub

If we could have ‘shower’ meters, linked to the volume of water being used & a display that converts that value into rupees, I think it will go a long way in reducing personal water consumption.

 

 

Turning a crisis into an opportunity

K.V. Kurmanath

Hyderabad, Nov. 29 Singapore’s success story with water reminds one of a Bollywood rags-to-riches story. From a water-starved State 30-35 years ago, it has now become a confident nation on the water front.

This, however, is not news. The success story has been written many times over in the last few years.

But what is new is the city-nation refuses to live on the laurels. It now wants to become a global hydro hub, offering technologies and skills in project implementations in the water sector.

It has already begun taking up desalination projects in West Asia and project management assignments in China and Vietnam, according to Mr Prantik Mazumdar, Centre Director (Kolkata) of Singapore Government’s International Operations Group.

“The Government has set up a $500-million fund for research and development in the water and related issues,” he said.

Mr Mazumdar was here to showcase the Singapore experience with regard to water and its plans for the future at a summit on water organised at the CII-Green Business Centre.

The city is taking up a S$2-billion project that envisages laying 40-60 metre deep tunnel sewerage system to collect all of its used water and, using the gravity pull, channelise it to Changi Water Reclamation system.

It will also help the City-State free 90 hectares of precious land. Singapore’s 700 sq. km is less than half of our national capital.

The 10-litre challenge

As a part of its bid to become a global water hub, Singapore is going to organise an international meet on water next year.

As it strived to save and use every drop of water, the Singapore Government launched the 10-litre challenge, asking its people to reduce the per capita daily consumption of water to 155 litres by 2012.