Do you know where the water which you use to drink, bathe and brush your teeth comes from? Full points for you if you have answered “ from the reservoirs in Johor and Singapore ”. What about the NEWater then ? We have all heard about (and possibly tasted it!) the NEWater being the water of the future, but why has it not begun flowing from our taps yet? Let's get to the bottom of the NEWater “wells”, shall we?

 All about NEWater

NEWater –the high-grade reclaimed water – was launched in 2003 to supplement the country's increasing usage of water. Even so, this does not mean that we can take advantage of this alternate water supply . We still have to continue our water-conservation practices, okay?

Do you know the locations of the NEWater water reclamation plants? They are situated at Bedok, Kranji and Seletar to supply NEWater to the industrial units at Tampines, Pasir Ris , Woodlands and Ang Mo Kio respectively.

In Sep 2002, a small amount of NEWater (about 1% of the total daily water consumption) was mixed and blended with untreated water in our reservoirs before undergoing water treatment and being supplied to our taps. The Public Utilities Board ( PUB) will gradually increase the amount of NEWater to be added to our existing water supply.

 

How is NEWater produced?

1. The water that has been used for your baths, showers, toothbrushing and toilet flushing is called wastewater. This wastewater is treated in water reclamation plants. At this point, the water is generally clean, but not safe enough to be consumed.
2. Harmful particles and bacteria are filtered from the treated water.
3. Remaining particles are further removed till the water becomes free from viruses and bacteria.
4. The water is now of a high quality, but just to make sure, the water undergoes yet another treatment to destroy any surviving organisms.
5. Some alkaline chemicals are added to the treated water, and the ultra-clean water is now finally ready for our use!

 

Is NEWater really that safe?

Yes, according to the PUB, NEWater is definitely safe and hygienic for our consumption. In fact, it is “cleaner” than the water that flows from our taps!