U.S. Water News Online
SINGAPORE -- The Singapore government will begin replenishing its reservoirs with water that has been reclaimed from sewage, the government's Public Utilities Board announced.
Starting from February next year, 1 percent of Singapore's total daily water consumption will be replenished by adding reclaimed waste water to the country's natural water reserves, a news release from the government agency said.
The government will increase the amount of reclaimed water progressively to about 2.5 percent of the total amount of water used by 2011, the release said.
This resource-scarce island city-state now buys more than half of its water from neighboring Malaysia under decades-old treaties which start expiring in 2011. The issue has sparked occasional spats between the two over pricing and other issues.
Earlier this month, a second round of Singapore-Malaysia talks ended without agreement on future water prices. Singapore officials have since said the country needs to become more self-sufficient in water, in case a deal with Malaysia cannot be struck.
In July the results of a two-year study -- commissioned by Singapore's Public Utilities Board -- were released that detailed how a rigorous filtration process called NEWater would allow waste water from homes and businesses to be rendered potable and mixed into existing supplies.
According to the study, such processes have been underway in the United States for at least two decades, with no reported adverse health effects.
Since the study was released, the government has spent a great deal of time and effort getting Singaporeans used to the idea of NEWater. They have handed out bottles of it at government-sponsored gatherings and photos of top government leaders enjoying it are frequently shown in the state-sponsored media.
The reclaimed water -- which has a slightly chlorinated taste -- will be mixed into Singapore's current water supply to replenish the treated water with natural minerals and trace chemicals leeched out during the purification process, the release said.
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