The dual-mode desalination plant goes live to address Singapore’s growing demand – 430 million gallons per day – of clean drinking water.
Nearly six billion people will suffer from clean water scarcity by 2050, according to the World Water Development Report by the United Nations. And as the world celebrates World Water Week, it is time to turn the attention to the global water crisis facing cities around the world struggling with increasing demand for water, reduction of water resources and increasing water pollution, all driven by world population growth which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.
Singapore has been using desalination as part of the solution to its water supply issue to provide sufficient clean drinking water for its ever-growing population of 5.5 million. Though surrounded by water, having enough drinking water has always been a challenge for this island state. The current demand for drinking water is up to 430 million gallons a day. The Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant (KMEDP) is the latest step of Singapore using advanced technology to help address their water challenge.
In operation since June 2021, KMEDP is dubbed one of the most advanced desalination plants in the world and marks one of the first in the world with a dual-mode facility. The plant will produce 30 million gallons of clean water every day, enough to fill 45 Olympic-sized swimming pools and 7% of Singapore’s daily water demand. It has also been designed sustainably in that the treatment facility is underground, freeing up 20,000m3 of green rooftop and community recreation space.
Singapore’s water comes from four sources – reservoir water, imported water from Malaysia, ultra-clean reclaimed water also known as NEWater, and desalination water. Desalination therefore plays a strategic role in the republic’s vision for a diversified and sustainable supply of water and is expected to meet up to 30% of water demand by 2060. Yet desalination is an energy-intensive process, so a modern method is needed to improve efficiency and sustainability.
The full article is published in the Water & Wastewater Asia Nov/Dec 2021 issue. To continue reading, click here.
