Some cutting-edge water management across the world

Singapore, where the water demand is currently about 430 million gallons a day. According to Singapore’s official website, the country’s water management strategies include collecting every drop of water, reusing water endlessly and desalinating more seawater. Dharmesh Shah, policy expert, said, “The idea was to map the water usage and account how every litre of water is being used, where is it going and how it can be brought back and recycled. Singapore has 95% of its water accounted for, while only 5% is left unaccounted.” 

Singapore’s water sources include n water from the local catchment, which is the source of the country’s sustainable water supply, and the reservoir. Singapore draws up 250 mgd from the Johor river. NEWater is a high-grade reclaimed water produced from treated used water, which is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, to make it safe to drink. Singapore’s five NEWater plants can meet up to 40% of the nation’s current water needs. 

The country has two desalination plants with a capacity of 100 mgd, meeting 25% of Singapore’s water demand. Two more are in the pipeline, to meet the country’s future water needs. Through awareness programs and water efficiency labelling for business and industries, Singapore’s a capita household water consumption was reduced from 165 litres a day in 2003 to the current 148 litres. The target is to lower it to 147 litres by 2020 and 140 litres by 2030. 

Environmentalist Arun Krishnamurthy said that cities like Hamburg and other European metros invest on technology to reuse the water. “Every time the toilet is flushed or garden is watered, recycled water is used. Cities in Europe and US have similar population like our cities. There is an extensive underground sewage system, where all the waste water is collected, treated and reused,” he said. 

Israel, located in the outskirts of a desert, faces a critical shortage of water. The country, which receives an annual rainfall of 3 cm in Southern parts and 30 cm in the cultivating lands side (Chennai gets an average rainfall of around 140 cm), has managed to remain droughtfree, due to smart water management. “The State had managed, in collaboration with the private sector, to maximize this limited resource and create a green and blooming environment, paralleling water-rich nations. Despite Israel’s water crisis of the last few years, the country had attained impressive achievements in water sector, including desalination projects, regular water supplies, some of the world’s highest wastewater reuse rates, low water loss, and developing agricultural and water technologies as successful export branches,” stated the website of the country’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, which includes the Water Authority and Mekorot.

Robust water treatment plants to reuse waste water. 

Protection of natural water resources.

Investment in technology to rescue waste water. 

Conservation of water - at domestic and industrial level and through rainwater harvesting structures.

Widespread water literacy. 

Water management and use plan.

Desalination plants. 

Planning to meet future water needs of the country.