Summary Reader's Response Draft 4
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 will be
built. The plant’s influent pumping stations 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. PUB mentioned that the Tuas WRP will consist of two
“energy- efficient membrane bio-reactor systems,” which will treat used water.
Finally, the water is integrated into the NEWater factory for further
purification. PUB also stated that Phase two will be completed by 2025.
NEA states that Singapore can generate more electricity,
treat more water, and save more space with the substitution of Waste-To-Energy
plants into Tuas WRP plants. With Singapore’s water usage being stated to
increase two-fold by 2060, the integration of Tuas WRP is an extremely
effective measure to resolve Singapore’s land and water issues. The increment
at generating electricity will be acquired through the water treatment process,
which compared to the WTE plants, Tuas WRP plants are able to generate up to
10% electricity compared to 3%.
To highlight Tuas WRP as an effective measure to resolve
Singapore’s water issues is that Singapore is one of the world’s most water
stressed countries. After Tuas WRP is fully implemented and working
at full force, it will potentially solve Singapore’s water self-sufficiency
issue. According to PUB’s website (2020) information on Tuas
WRP, it can have an initial treatment of 800,000 m3 per day, which is 40% of
the total used water generated in Singapore. Tuas WRP is capable of dual
treatment of domestic and industrial used water compared to the WTE plants we
have right now. Furthermore, in the same NEA 2020 news release PUB
stated that a NEWater factory is to be built on the rooftop of Tuas WRP to
increase water production capabilities and to ensure a sufficient supply of
water with the growing water demand.
Another reason why Tuas WRP is effective is due to
Singapore’s limited land space. It is stated by PUB (2020) that Tuas WRP is
made up of the largest membrane bioreactor facility in the world, which enables
the plant to be more energy efficient and save more space as compared
to the WTE plants. This will result in Singapore having more space for other
developments, which will solve other remaining issues or difficulties that we
may face.
Lastly, is the cost of maintaining Tuas WRP. Normally, the
higher the efficiency of the plant will co-relate to the plant’s repair
cost, an example would be if the higher end technology such as the world’s
largest membrane bioreactor facility would suddenly fail. The repair cost would
be uneconomical. ABB (2020) stated that monitoring and security systems
are integrated to manage energy utilization across the site, to prevent cyber
threats and test vulnerability of the system. Furthermore, ABB will
provide a service team to give the site continuous asset, system monitoring and
preventative maintenance for eight years after Tuas WRP is complete. This will
reduce the maintenance cost to a minimum as a measure has been implemented to
preserve Tuas WRP.
In conclusion, I support the integration of Tuas WRP
project. This has been carefully planned, where Singapore’s issues such as land
efficiency, power efficiency and water demand has been addressed. NEA
even imposed contingency plans to maintain the plant, which will greatly reduce
the cost to maintain the plant. I believe that meticulous planning and
statements from reliable sources will give a sense of relief and trust to the
readers that Tuas WRP is an extremely effective measure to resolve Singapore’s
land and water issues.
References:
ASEA Brown Boveri. (2020, November 24). Singapore selects
ABB to automate world’s largest membrane bioreactor.
https://www.watertechonline.com/industry/press-release/14187902/abb-singapore-selects-abb-to-automate-worlds-largest-membrane-bioreactor
National Environmental Agency. (2020, September 8). Tuas
Nexus - Singapore's First Integrated Water and Solid Waste Treatment facility
begins construction.
https://www.pub.gov.sg/dtss/phase2/twrp
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/new-mega-facilities-treat-40-spores-waste-2027
Thanks for the revision, Cayden.
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