S$26 million in funding for firms to implement water conservation schemes

SINGAPORE — Over the next three years, large industrial water users that are keen to implement water recycling or water conservation solutions within their premises can tap on funds of up to S$26 million administered by PUB.

The national water agency said water-intensive companies could reduce their consumption by up to 70 per cent through water recycling.

Water demand in the non-domestic sector is projected to jump from the current 55 per cent to 70 per cent of overall consumption by 2060, it said.

PUB hopes to achieve industrial water savings of three million gallons per day (mgd) every year, or savings equivalent to the water demand of more than 25,000 households.

To help water-intensive companies reduce their water consumption, the PUB announced on Monday (June 3) that companies which used over 60,000 cubic metres of water per year could tap on three funding schemes to implement water recycling or water conservation:

• Water Efficiency Fund

• Industrial Water Solutions Demonstration Fund

• Living Lab (Water) Fund

These schemes have been rolled out progressively since 2007, but this is the first time that PUB has disclosed the total amount of funds available for these schemes. Funds from the schemes can be used to defray the costs of implementing water-recycling and conservation.

To date, PUB has facilitated 22 projects which save over five mgd of water. Another 13 projects will be completed by 2021, bringing water savings to about eight mgd, which is equivalent to the water demand of more than 68,000 households. It is also considering a further 34 projects, which could save an additional 10 mgd of water, equivalent to the water demand of 85,000 households.

In line with efforts to get companies to reduce their water usage, the PUB and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources will host over 180 leaders from local and international water companies, as well as large industrial water users for a two-day conference this week.

Dubbed the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Spotlight, the conference aims to encourage industrial water users to adopt technologies that can reduce water consumption and recycle water.

This is the first time that Spotlight has focused on industrial water solutions.

The event is held a year ahead of SIWW, a biennial forum for members within the water industry to share innovative solutions on water management.

“The recycling rate in large industries is current around 20 per cent and there is certainly room to increase this number through greater adoption of technologies...Through the SIWW Spotlight event, we want to encourage more companies to recognise the technical viability of these industrial water solutions and the value of water recycling for their operational sustainability, and proactively seek ways to do so,” said Mr Ng Joo Hee, the chief executive of PUB.

One such company that has been able to tap on the funding provided by PUB has been infant milk product manufacturer Wyeth Nutritionals, a subsidiary of Swiss consumer products giant Nestle.

The company has been able to reduce 25 per cent of its water consumption by constructing a 300 cubic metre water recycling plant in its premises in Tuas. The company’s Singapore operation is the first among its international facilities to recycle water using a patented reverse osmosis system.

While Wyeth Nutritionals would typically treat waste water from its manufacturing process and discharge it into the sewers, it now transfers some of this water to its S$1.5 million reverse osmosis plant. The water is then sent to the cooling towers on its premises.

Wyeth Nutritionals’ engineering and maintenance director, Mr Ang Choo San, said that the company was able to overcome spatial constraints and funding challenges through the support provided by PUB.

He added that PUB had also provided training to its staff to manage the plant: “PUB supported us in terms of technical expertise because we are not good in regulating water. Our expertise is in the manufacturing process...Through the training given by PUB and a third party services provider, we are now able to become independent and operate this plant on our own.”