Direct Potable Reuse: The Singapore NEWater Project as a Role Model

Abstract

In Singapore, indirect potable water reuse has been applied during the last two decades. Now, water reuse furnishes around 30% of the nation's water request and the well-known NEWater success story has greatly participated in transforming Singapore into a global hydro hub for pioneering novel water techniques. This work discusses the recent technological improvements and the outlooks for water reuse in Singapore as a model. Fields of attentions comprise membrane exploitation (involving forward, reverse and pressure retarded osmosis, as well as membrane bioreactors), advanced oxidation processes, electrochemical methods, and their combination as cost-effective tailored solutions to tackle novel dares as diverse as direct potable reuse. The challenge is to duplicate the Singapore NEWater success story throughout the world. Efforts should be accomplished to generalize such encouraging and rich experience especially in poor countries where humans are dying because of lack of water or due to diseases caused by contaminated water.

Cost and Energy Metrics for Municipal Water Reuse

“…In Singapore, the densely populated and land-scarce city-state aims to reach 100% municipal reuse for all possible uses. Currently, their NEWater scheme supplies up to 40% of Singapore’s water use. ,, The longest running DPR facility is in Windhoek, Namibia, where it has been operating since 1968 and now provides over a quarter of the city’s total supply from treatment of secondary treated sewage effluent for reuse as raw water . In 2007, the Australian federal government responded to their extensive drought by mandating 30% reuse by 2015.…”

Membranes in Water Reclamation: Treatment, Reuse and Concentrate Management

“…In the field of municipal wastewater reclamation, the industry standard in many countries has shifted towards the adoption of dual-membrane systems, specifically combining MF/UF membranes followed by RO [ 74 , 75 ]. This approach, depicted in Figure 5 , involves the initial treatment of feedwater using low-pressure membranes such as MF/UF, which effectively remove macromolecules, major foulants, and bacteria.…”

Chlorination of Emerging Contaminants for Application in Potable Wastewater Reuse: Disinfection Byproduct Formation, Estrogen Activity, and Cytotoxicity

“…Growing populations and increasing drought have encouraged the use of alternative water sources, such as seawater desalination and wastewater reuse. Among these alternatives, reuse of domestic wastewater is one of the most energy efficient and sustainable options. , Treated wastewater has been used for decades for agriculture, landscaping, and industrial applications, among other nonpotable usages, but is now on the rise for potable reuse. ,, Currently, there are >40 indirect potable reuse facilities in the United States, with some direct potable reuse facilities under study, in design, undergoing approval, or already in operation. , California’s planned potable reuse capacity could reach approximately 728,000 acres-feet per year, serving ∼5.8 million people. , Potable reuse is also adopted in other countries, including Singapore, whose NEWater provides ∼40% of its water, Australia, whose government mandated 30% reuse by 2015, and Windhoek, Namibia, which has the longest running direct potable reuse (since 1968). ,− …”