Singapore has taken further steps to ensure water security in the form of a $2.5 million water research facility as well as two bilateral agreements to facilitate the sharing of expertise and knowledge in the water sector.

The launch of the facility was announced by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli during the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Spotlight event. It will be opened in Jurong in January 2018, and will be managed and run by Japanese firm Kurita Water Industries, supported by Singapore’s Economic Development Board and PUB. The facility will focus on developing technologies for the recycling of waste water and desalination.

During the event, PUB chief executive Ng Joo Hee signed two agreements with water firms in Saudi Arabia and Australia to promote research and collaboration on water technologies.

Singapore’s four national taps comprise water from its reservoirs, Newater (treated used water), water from desalination (converting sea water to potable water), and imported water from Malaysia.

The first agreement, between PUB and Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation, will support research and innovation in areas such as leak detection, energy reduction, and desalination. The second agreement, signed between PUB and Western Australia’s Water Corporation, is set to boost collaboration in the fields of waste water management, urban water supply and innovation.

The Singapore-Australia partnership will also spotlight climate change adaptation, something which is becoming increasingly significant due to climate change and erratic rainfall. The water levels in Linggiu Reservoir, Singapore’s main source of water in Malaysia, for instance, dropped to a historic low of 20 % last year after a particularly dry spell in 2014 – levels have since risen to around 42%.

The announcements came on the back of a water price hike – the first in 17 years – which came in to effect this month. Mr Masagos said that while price increases are never welcome, they are necessary in order to continue proper maintenance and investments in belter water infrastructure.

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