To ensure that Singapore’s water reserves remain at healthy levels despite the dry spell, PUB will ramp up the amount of NEWater it is injecting into the reservoirs by another 5 million gallons per day (mgd) from next week, said Minister of Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.

The national water agency has been injecting 20 to 25 mgd of NEWater into the reservoirs since mid-January, when Singapore started experiencing the dry phase of the north-east monsoon season. PUB said 30 mdg is the highest amount of NEWater it has had to inject into the reservoirs. The last time it had to pump a similar amount was during a dry spell in 2010.

In a Facebook post, Dr Balakrishnan said many people had asked about the dry weather and its implications on Singapore’s water security. “Fortunately, our major investments in NEWater and desalination over the years have diversified our sources of water supply and strengthened our water security,” he said. PUB, he added, has been running the desalination and NEWater plants at close to full capacity.

NEWater and desalinated water are two of Singapore’s four “national taps”, providing up to 30 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of its water needs. The other two taps are imported water and catchment water.

While Singapore can meet its water needs during the dry season — expected to last until next month — Dr Balakrishnan also cautioned against the unnecessary consumption of water. “Let us remember that every drop of water is precious,” he said. WOO SIAN BOON