SINGAPORE — Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that desalination and NEWater sources are a reminder today that Singapore can be resilient against a drought or a dry spell, and that imported water remains an essential part of the country’s water supply.

Speaking in Parliament today (March 7), Dr Balakrishnan said there is no need for water rationing in Singapore for now, if a lid is kept on demand and consumption.

Singapore has been experiencing a dry spell since January and water consumption has gone up to 420 million gallons a day.

Dr Balakrishnan said that if demand continues to increase, then he will have to “re-evaluate the adequacy of current plans”.

He noted the PUB has stepped up desalination to the full capacity of 100 million gallons a day, and NEWater production has also been raised to more than 100 million gallons a day, for industrial use and to top up the country’s reservoirs by 35 million gallons a day.

That is why Singapore is able to “keep the reservoir stock at a healthy level despite the lack of rain,” he said.

But he added that it is “sobering” to bear in mind that the additional capacity only came about in last decade.

In fact, he added the most recent desalination plant came online only six months ago.

On the need to still import water from Johor, Dr Balakrishnan pointed to Singapore’s S$300-million investment in the Linggui Dam project.

He said Singapore helped to build the Linggui Dam and reservoir in the upstream portion of the Johor River, enabling the river to increase its yield and supply sufficient water even during a dry period.

He said the investment in turn enabled Singapore to continue drawing 250 million gallons of raw water a day while Malaysian plants also continue drawing water for their own local production.

“The investment is a premium we have paid for greater security and diversity of water supply,” he said. CHANNEL NEWSASIA