Water Management - Week 5 Entry 2


As someone born and raised in Singapore, one of the major problems we face and something that is taken for granted by many around the world is water security. Singapore being an extremely small nation has had trouble finding a sustainable resource of water for its residents since the island country was still under the colonisation of the British.
For the past century, Singapore’s main resources of water has been a water agreement between their neighbouring country of Malaysia and Singapore. This agreement allows Singapore to purchase water off the Malaysian state of Johor. Since then, Singapore has been looking for alternatives to not heavily rely on its neighbouring country for such an important resource.
Singapore currently has four different sources of water, the first being the current trade agreement with Johor. The second is NEWater, a form of water treated from used water (including sewage water), clean enough for drinking purposes. Thirdly, water catchment areas, where rain and storm water are harvested. And finally, desalinated water, where harvested rain and storm water along with seawater are treated for drinking purposes. In recent years, the latter three of the four contributed to majority of the country’s water needs, which has reduced Singapore’s reliance on its neighbouring country.
Singapore’s development over the years for a sustainable source of water has shown the potential of future planning to provide sustainable sources for resources. Countries facing water shortages or potential future water shortages should follow similar precautions of water management. Singapore being a tropical country that is susceptible to plenty of rainfall has different challenges compared to those of different climates such as Cape Town, but similar water recycling systems such as NEWater can be implemented to reduce the impact of water shortage caused by drought and other natural disasters.
Singapore’s government displayed a careful and thoughtful process of providing water security for its residents in a sustainable manner. Though on a smaller scale and a climate that might not be applicable to other nations, it is crucial that governments plan for possible disasters that might occur and create sustainable alternate resources for its nation.

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