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NEWater-
The 3rd National Tap:
What is
NEWater?
NEWater is reclaimed
water produced by Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB). It is used water
that is treated to become potable water. The water is clean and suitable for
drinking purposes, but is mostly used for industrial operations. It is the 3rd national tap of
Singapore’s water supply system and is a practice that had been ongoing for
decades in Singapore. Currently, there are a total of 4 operational NEWater factories
in Singapore, at Bedok, Kranji, Ulu Pandan and Changi.
Process:
NEWater is reclaimed
water made by purifying used water through a three-stage process. During the
treatment process, used water goes through the 1st stage- microfiltration.
At this stage, unwanted substances are removed,
being filtered out by membranes.
It then
reaches the second stage- reverse osmosis. At this stage, the water passes
through into a semi-permeable membrane which only allows water molecules to
pass through. This ensures that unwanted substances such as bacteria and heavy
metals are removed. In the end, high-grade and clean water is obtained.
As an extra
precautionary measure, the water next undergoes the 3rd stage- Ultraviolet
disinfection to ensure the purity of the product water. Alkaline chemicals are
added to the water to restore its PH balance. Finally, the water becomes ultra-clean
and safe for drinking.
Advantages:
1) It is
sustainable in the long run and is known as the “pillar of Singapore’s water
sustainability”.
2) We will
always have a ready source of water.
3) It is a self-dependent method as it reduces Singapore's reliability
on imported water from other countries.
4) It reduces wastage of water as used water is
recycled. Thus, NEWater helps to maximize the use of water on Earth.
Disadvantages:
1) People are not used to drinking NEWater
as the taste is different due to the removal of nutrients during the process.
2) It is costly. Bedok’s NEWater plant
cost $6.82 million.
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