WATER SUPPLY (Plans for adequacy)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how the Public Utilities Board plans to overcome the problem of adequate water supply in the event of a shortage of supply from Malaysia; and (b) whether PUB (i) has any plans to construct new reservoirs or expand the capacity of our existing reservoirs, (ii) will look into the possibility of desalination of sea water,and (iii) will extend the use of industrial water to households for purposes other than consumption.

The Acting Minister for Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the PUB has two Water Agreements with the Johore Government which enable us to draw water from reservoirs in Gunong Pulai and Pontian, and from the Scudai, Tebrau and Johore Rivers. These agreements assure us adequate supply for our present needs. Should there be a drought in Malaysia, our own reservoirs in Singapore, together with appropriate water conservation measures, should be adequate to tide us over a difficult period.

PUB's long-term plans have always included building new reservoirs and expanding the capacity of existing reservoirs. The most recent project has been the two new reservoirs under the Sungei Seletar/Bedok Water Scheme. This is the last Singapore surface water source which can be developed. Future water resources will have to be found outside Singapore.

There are currently three schemes to expand the water supply from Johore: the extensions to the Scudai Waterworks, the extension to the Johore Waterworks, and the construction of the second Johore Pipeline.

In addition, the Singapore and Malaysian Governments are jointly looking into the development of the Johore River water resources to meet the long term needs of both Singapore and Johore. Provided these schemes, together with others, are implemented in the 1990s, there should be adequate water to meet our needs up to the year 2000.

Desalination of sea water is technically feasible but extremely costly, especially on a large scale. PUB's strategy is therefore first to develop conventional water sources to the maximum extent possible.

As for industrial water, it is not economical to extend the use of industrial water to households. Doing so will mean building a separate parallel supply system. This will be expensive, especially as industrial water cannot be used for bathing and washing clothes. It can only be used for flushing toilets.

However, industrial water is suitable for factory use. The Ministry of the Environment will therefore be extending the industrial water system to serve the new industries in the Tuas area.

All this simply underlines the crucial importantce to Singapore of saving and not wasting precious water.