PUB, Singapore’s national water agency George Madhavan Director, 3P Network PUB, Singapore’s national water agency

Country Information

PUB manages the complete water cycle sea rain stormwater management collection of rainfall in drains & reservoirs treatment of raw to potable water of used water in sewers supply of water to the population & industries treatment of used water desalination NEWater Indirect Potable Use Direct Non-Potable Use

NEWater Introduced in 2002 Primarily for industrial and commercial use Small percentage added to raw water reservoirs NEWater can meet 30% of Singapore’s current water supply

INDUSTRIAL WATER PIPELINES Closing the water loop N JOHOR OF STRAITS LEGEND Pulau Bukom Woodlands NEWater SR Kranji NF Tampines Bedok Changi NF JIWW Ulu Pandan INDUSTRIAL WATER PIPELINES Kent Ridge on Mandai SR Jurong Hill 65 SR 17 mgd 18 mgd 32 mgd Changi 50 mgd NEWater Infrastructure Plan (NIP) and NIP Extension pipeline projects in progress to meet growing demand in Jurong Island NEWater to meet 50% of water needs by 2060

Quality assurance Comprehensive water sampling and analysis Extensive physical, chemical and microbiological testing 300 parameters incorporated; more than 130,000 analyses carried out to date Independent panel of international water experts; regular audit and review of results and plant operations - Comprehensive water sampling and analysis programme, with quality standards benchmarked against WHO Drinking Water Guidelines and US Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Standards. - Extensive physical, chemical and microbiological tests at various stages of production process over a two-year period - 190 parameters incorporated and more than 25,000 analyses carried out to date - Panel of international water experts formed to provide independent advice on water reclamation study and evaluate suitability of NEWater for potable use - Regular audits and review of results and plant operations by internal and external audit panel

Expert Validation

Terminology had negative connotation Key Challenges Overturning public’s psychological fear and stigma Focus on treatment process (advanced membrane technologies), instead of source Translate technical information in a simple, layman manner through use of simple diagrams and familiar objects that are easy to understand Mindset change needed to get public to understand that water recycling was part of nature NEWater process speeds up the natural water cycle Terminology had negative connotation Use terms that better reflect the process or its value as a resource - how to overturn public’ psychological fear and stigma Focus on treatment process, which involves using advanced, state-of-the-art membrane technology, and not the source Also a need to translate this technical information in a simple, layman manner Eg use of simple diagrams and familiar objects to explain the reverse osmosis process Present terminology had negative connotation conscious and deliberate attempt made to replace terms that would better reflect the process or its value as a resource For eg, used water in place of wastewater and sewage Sewerage treatment plants renamed as water reclamation plants Mindset change needed to get public to understand how the water cycle happens in nature Water recycling is part of the natural water cycle Unplanned Indirect Potable Use practised in Europe for centuries In contrast, planned indirect potable use offers more reliability and quality assurance as water managers typically employ more advanced technology

Engaging the stakeholders Communications with stakeholders was key to success of campaign Key messages: NEWater is a safe and meets WHO drinking water guidelines NEWater will make Singapore’s water supply more resilient Opinion leaders Media Public Communications with stakeholders is key to success of campaign Media Opinion leaders such as political leaders, water experts, grassroots leaders, business groups etc Public Key messages: NEWater is a safe and sustainable source of water supply for Singapore and meets WHO drinking water guidelines NEWater will make the overall water supply system more resilient

Engaging media as partners

Endorsement by leaders

sewage treatment plant  water reclamation plant Choice of words wastewater or sewage  used water sewage treatment plant  water reclamation plant Reclaimed water  NEWater

NEWater Visitor Centre Pillar of public education campaign; officially opened in Feb 2003

Public sampling

4 NEWater plants can meet 30% of Singapore’s water needs NEWater in 2012 300 parameters incorporated; more than 130,000 analyses carried out to date 4 NEWater plants can meet 30% of Singapore’s water needs 23 million bottles of NEWater distributed for public sampling purposes NEWater to meet 50% of Singapore’s water demand by 2060.

http://www.pub.gov.sg http://www.facebook.com/PUBsg