homes. In this regard, the main focus of this task should be addressed at reducing
the consumption and losses at public buildings. The potential for household retrofitting projects as a pilot project should be investigated.
Box 4: Singapore: An Exemplary Case of Urban Water Management
Singapore is a city state with an area of about 700 km
2 . It currently consumes
about 1.36 billion liters of water per day (Cecilia Tortajada 2007). It is a
water-scarce country and thus used to import its entitlement of water from the
neighboring state of Johor, Malaysia, under the long-term agreements signed
in 1961 and 1962. Under these agreements, Singapore can transfer water from
Johor for a price of 1 cent per 1000 gallons. The water from Johor was
imported through three large pipelines across a 2-km course way that separates the two countries. In August 1965, Singapore became an independent
country, and the long-term water security was an important consideration for
this newly independent nation. Accordingly, Singapore made a special effort
to register the Separation Agreement in the United Nations Charter Secretariat
Office in June 1966. Singapore has developed a new plan for increasing water
security and self-sufficiency during the post 2011-period, with increasingly
more efficient water management, including formulation and implementation
of new water-related policies, heavy investments in desalination and
extensive reuse of wastewater, catchment management and other similar
actions. Institutionally, Public Utilities Board (PUB) currently manages the
entire water cycle of Singapore. Earlier, PUB was responsible for managing
potable water, electricity and gas. In April 1, 2001, the responsibilities for
sewerage and drainage were transferred to PUB from the Ministry of the
Environment. This transfer allowed PUB to develop and implement a holistic
policy, which included protection and expansion of water sources, storm
water management, desalination, demand management, community-driven
programs, catchment management, public education and awareness programs.
The country is now fully sewered to collect all wastewater and has constructed separate drainage and sewerage systems to facilitate wastewater reuse
on an extensive scale.
Overall Approach
One of the reasons as to why Singapore has been very successful in managing
its water and wastewater is because of its concurrent emphasis on demand
management, wastewater and stormwater management, institutional effectiveness and creating an enabling environment, which includes a strong
political will, effective legal and regulatory frameworks and an experienced
and motivated workforce. The Singapore example indicates that it is not
unrealistic to expect the existence of an efficient water management institution in a country, in the midst of other similar mediocre management institutions, be they for energy, agriculture or industry. Water management
institution in a country can only be as efficient as its management of other
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
39
the consumption and losses at public buildings. The potential for household retrofitting projects as a pilot project should be investigated.
Box 4: Singapore: An Exemplary Case of Urban Water Management
Singapore is a city state with an area of about 700 km
2 . It currently consumes
about 1.36 billion liters of water per day (Cecilia Tortajada 2007). It is a
water-scarce country and thus used to import its entitlement of water from the
neighboring state of Johor, Malaysia, under the long-term agreements signed
in 1961 and 1962. Under these agreements, Singapore can transfer water from
Johor for a price of 1 cent per 1000 gallons. The water from Johor was
imported through three large pipelines across a 2-km course way that separates the two countries. In August 1965, Singapore became an independent
country, and the long-term water security was an important consideration for
this newly independent nation. Accordingly, Singapore made a special effort
to register the Separation Agreement in the United Nations Charter Secretariat
Office in June 1966. Singapore has developed a new plan for increasing water
security and self-sufficiency during the post 2011-period, with increasingly
more efficient water management, including formulation and implementation
of new water-related policies, heavy investments in desalination and
extensive reuse of wastewater, catchment management and other similar
actions. Institutionally, Public Utilities Board (PUB) currently manages the
entire water cycle of Singapore. Earlier, PUB was responsible for managing
potable water, electricity and gas. In April 1, 2001, the responsibilities for
sewerage and drainage were transferred to PUB from the Ministry of the
Environment. This transfer allowed PUB to develop and implement a holistic
policy, which included protection and expansion of water sources, storm
water management, desalination, demand management, community-driven
programs, catchment management, public education and awareness programs.
The country is now fully sewered to collect all wastewater and has constructed separate drainage and sewerage systems to facilitate wastewater reuse
on an extensive scale.
Overall Approach
One of the reasons as to why Singapore has been very successful in managing
its water and wastewater is because of its concurrent emphasis on demand
management, wastewater and stormwater management, institutional effectiveness and creating an enabling environment, which includes a strong
political will, effective legal and regulatory frameworks and an experienced
and motivated workforce. The Singapore example indicates that it is not
unrealistic to expect the existence of an efficient water management institution in a country, in the midst of other similar mediocre management institutions, be they for energy, agriculture or industry. Water management
institution in a country can only be as efficient as its management of other
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
39