SINGAPORE plans to become self-sufficient in its water supply by 2061, partly by beefing up the amount of Newater and desalinated water it produces.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said yesterday that by 2060, Singapore plans to triple its current Newater capacity and increase by almost 10 times its desalination capacity.
This would result in Newater and desalination meeting 50 per cent and 30 per cent of the country's future water demand respectively, "should this be necessary", he said at the joint opening of two conferences, Singapore International Water Week and World Cities Summit. Both events will have 15,000 attendees in all, including ministers from various countries and industry leaders. Newater and desalinated water now meet 30 per cent and 10 per cent of Singapore's water needs respectively. The Government had earlier set a 2020 target for Newater to be able to provide 40 per cent of Singapore's water demand.