Summary Readers Response (Tuas WRP); Draft 3

In the news release, “Singapore’s First Integrated Water and Solid Waste Treatment Facility Begins Construction” the National Environmental Agency (NEA) (2020) states that with Tuas water reclamation plant (Tuas WRP) and integrated waste management facility (IWMF) built, waste treatment would be more efficient and environmentally friendly. Singapore decided to construct Tuas WRP to prepare for water usage potentially being doubled by 2060. In phase 1, the plant’s influent pumping stations were built. It conveys used water from tunnels to treatment units within Tuas WRP. In phase 2, the tunnels and sewers that carry domestic and industrial used water will be constructed under the Ayer Rajah Expressway. It is also mentioned that the Tuas WRP will consist of two “energy- efficient membrane bio-reactor systems” which treat used water. Finally, it is integrated into the NEWater factory for further purification. It is also stated that phase two will be completed in 2025. NEA states that with the implementation of Tuas WRP plants, Singapore can manage waste water better than before. As Singapore's water usage is predicted to be doubled by 2060, the integration of Tuas WRP is an effective measure to manage the rising need for clean water, effective space and cost management.

Firstly, with Tuas WRP built, Singapore can battle the need for clean water as it is one of the countries with high water consumption rates. According to NEA (2020), Tuas WRP will be able to treat a capacity of 800,000m3 of waste water daily. That is equal to 320 Olympic-sized swimming pools' capacity. With Tuas also being able to treat industrial wastewater, it can also resupply the industries with high quality industrial used water, helping in coping with the increasing water need in Singapore. NEA (2020) also states that there will be NEWater facilities installed on the rooftop of Tuas WRP. That will aid in the production for Singapore's use. 

Secondly, due to the shortage in land, there is a rising need for effective space management in Singapore. Tuas WRP will be aiding by being space efficient. The Tuas WRP will be equipped with the world's largest membrane bioreactor facility ("Construction begins on", 2020). That will allow the plant to be more efficient in energy while occupying less space as compared to conventional water treatment plants. Moreover, with the NEWater facilities installed on the rooftop of Tuas WRP, space is also being saved and managed as there are more facilities in one plot of land.

Lastly, the Tuas WRP is cost efficient in maintaining the facility. NEA (2020) states that Tuas WRP can produce electricity to operate the facility and provide excess for use in Singapore electrical grid. This will also help in cutting the cost on the production of  electricity for Singapore's use. In the article, "Swiss tech firm ABB wins US$30m Tuas Water Reclamation Plant contract", Mui (2020) states that ABB will be supplying continuous asset, system monitoring and preventive maintenance for eight years after Tuas WRP is built. This will further cut the cost of operating the plant. 

In conclusion, I support the idea of constructing Tuas WRP. I believe that the project has been planned to work towards resolving Singapore's main few problems like rising water consumption, increasing need for space management and the increasing cost of operating treatment facilities. The project shows that Singapore came up with many innovative ideas to tackle those issues. Considering the statistics and statements from the article and other trustworthy sources, I am certain that the implementation of Tuas WRP is indeed an excellent way to work towards the need for waste water management with space and cost efficiency in mind. 

Reference  

(2020, September 8). Construction begins on 'energy self-sufficient' water and solid waste treatment facility Tuas Nexus. Channel News Asia.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tuas-nexus-waste-treatment-energy-construction-begins-13091096

NEA. (2020,September 8). Tuas Nexus - Singapore's First Integrated Water and Solid Waste Treatment facility begins construction.

https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/tuas-nexus-singapore-s-first-integrated-water-and-solid-waste-treatment-facility-begins-construction

Mui, R. (2020, November 16) Swiss tech firm ABB wins US$30m Tuas Water Reclamation Plant contract. The Business Times.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/swiss-tech-firm-abb-wins-us30m-tuas-water-reclamation-plant-contract