Singapore uses treated wastewater to expand its drinking water supply.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Singapore, a Southeastern Asian city-state of 5 million residents, has been recycling treated municipal wastewater to increase its freshwater supply for seven years. The process works so well that the city is now branding the same water as bottled NEWater for drinking, and supplying beautiful fountains like this one at the NEWater recycling plant. More NEWater Solution Images Below

By Brett Walton

Circle of Blue

Recycled treated wastewater, which Singapore has branded “NEWater”, is providing 30 percent of the Southeast Asian island city-state’s total demand for fresh water.

NEWater is Singapore’s brand of purified wastewater.

The small, densely populated island enjoys heavy rainfall, but lacks sufficient watersheds and natural rivers from which to draw water. Because space to store water is so tight, the city of five million residents has always relied for its drinking water on unconventional sources—including imports—and has transformed two-thirds of its landmass into storm and water catchments.

Until this year, imports from neighboring Malaysia accounted for 40 percent of the nation’s 300-million gallon daily demand for fresh water. For political and economic reasons, however, the government decided not to renew the import contracts, which were signed in 1961 and expire in 2011 and 2061.

When imports end, Singapore’s three freshwater sources will be local—rainfall in catchments, desalination, and NEWater.

NEWater is Singapore’s own brand of reclaimed water and is essentially wastewater purified by two rounds of treatment. Initially used for industrial purposes only, a small portion of NEWater is now returned to reservoirs, where it blends with rainwater before entering the standard drinking water treatment and distribution system.

To make potable water out of what goes down the drain and toilet, Singapore’s NEWater recycling plants take water from standard treatment facilities and then use an additional three-step purification process: micro-filtration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet treatment. The end product meets drinking water standards set by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Singapore’s own national agency.

In May 2010, Singapore opened its fifth and largest NEWater plant, which has the capacity to recycle up to 176 million gallons per day.

NEWater is distributed by Singapore’s water utility through the tap, and it is also distributed in bottles at the NEWater visitor center and at community promotional events.

Note: This article has been corrected since first publication to reflect that NEWater is not sold in stores.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Towers of micro-filtration units remove partcles and pollutants as water passes through the expansive complex on the city’s outskirts.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue In May 2010, Singapore opened its fifth and largest NEWater plant, which has the capacity to recycle up to 176 million gallons per day. A mass of plumbing, pumps, scaffolding, and remote sensors move water from brown to blue at the Changi plant.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Stacks of microfiber filters contain holes so small that only water molecules can pass through under high pressure, while the tiniest particles and chemicals are captured.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue To make potable water out of what goes down the drain and toilet, Singapore’s recycling plants use a three-step purification process: micro-filtration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet treatment. Giant chambers capture the largest impurities from incoming wastewater after basic sewage treatment.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Industrial treatment equipment dwarfs an engineer at the plant.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Mission Control: Engineers manage vast systems of pipes, pumps and valves with mouse clicks and keystrokes to turn sewage into clean, safe drinking water.

Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Until this year, imports from neighboring Malaysia accounted for 40 percent of Singapore’s 300-million gallon daily demand for fresh water. A status panel at Singapore’s Changi NEWater plant operated by Sembcorp.

Brett Walton is a Seattle-based reporter for Circle of Blue. Contact Brett Walton

Last month, Circle of Blue director J. Carl Ganter toured the NEWater facility and brought back images of the daily operations at one of the world’s largest water recycling systems. Reach him at jcarl@circleofblue.org.

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