Waterworks handover will not affect S’pore’s water supply: Dr Balakrishnan [News]

By Wayne Chan, Channel NewsAsia, 31 Aug 2011.

The return to Johor of four waterworks would not affect Singapore’s water supply, said Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

Speaking after a handover ceremony at Gunong Pulai of the waterworks Wednesday morning witnessed by the Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar, Dr Balakrishnan said the handover on good terms was symbolic of deepening ties between Singapore and Malaysia.

Gunong Pulai is one of four waterworks under the 1961 water agreement which expires Wednesday. Read more

International Experts Commend Progress of Research & Development in Singapore’s Water Industry [Press Releases]

The International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Singapore’s Environment and Water Technology industry commented on the excellent progress that the Singapore water industry has made in the last five years. The panel held its annual meeting on 8 July 2011, as part of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW).

Singapore is presently home to a flourishing water industry of more than 70 international and local companies, a significant increase from 50 in 2006. Investments made by these companies in the last five years, when fully realised, will contribute S$590 million of annual value-added to the Singapore economy and generate 2,300 professional and skilled jobs. Singapore-based companies have also been doing well in the international water markets, with a cumulative project value reaching S$8.4 billion since 2006. Through various incentive schemes under the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office’s (EWI) Environment and Water Research Programme, there is now a vibrant research community of 23 R&D centres working on more than 60 projects on leading-edge technologies. Read more

17 ABC Waters projects get certification [News]

Eight private sector projects were among 17 recognised on Wednesday for incorporating environmentally-friendly water management features in their design.

This marks a four-fold increase in private sector projects that are eco-friendly.

The projects received the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters certification for their effort.

City Developments’ H2O Residences is the first private development to integrate the surrounding water bodies and park. Read more

Strong Research Eco-System Spurs Innovative Water Technologies in Singapore [Press Releases]

Singapore, 5 July 2011 – PUB, Singapore’s national water agency launched a new R&D book, Innovation in Water | Singapore today at the Singapore International Water Week.

Launched by Teo Ming Kian, Permanent Secretary for National Research and Development, the Innovation in Water | Singapore showcases the results of water R&D efforts in Singapore. These include projects undertaken by PUB and collaborative projects that PUB carries out with international partners.

These projects, which span six research areas – Intelligent Watershed Management, Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Water Quality and Security, Network Management, and Membrane Technology – address three key goals of increasing water resources, keeping costs competitive and managing water quality and security. Read more

ITT and PUB Singapore mark key milestone in partnership to enhance energy efficient water and wastewater treatment solutions [Press Releases]

SINGAPORE – July 6, 2011 – ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT), a world leader in the transport, test and treatment of water and wastewater, and PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, today announced the completion of an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) pilot system at Choa Chu Kang Water Works.

Advanced oxidation processes are highly effective at removing contaminants and micro-pollutants when other standard treatment methods cannot. The research will study the technical effectiveness and economic feasibility of using AOPs for contaminant removal. ITT’s WEDECO MiPRO™ solution is one Advanced Oxidation Process which gives efficient removal performance for micro-pollutants with the combination of ultraviolet (UV) light, ozone and peroxide so as to provide the optimal treatment solution. Read more

PUB to set up centre for water-linked problems [News]

A new centre that can plug water-related problems faster – from floods to burst pipes and damaged treatment plants – will be set up next year.

The project by national water agency PUB and home-grown company ST Electronics is expected to be ready in the second half of next year.

While both PUB and ST Electronics declined to reveal the location and cost of the centre, what is known is that its staff will be able to monitor the water-supply network, treatment plants and flood- monitoring systems all at the same time.

Once a problem is identified, field teams will be sent to the site, with updates of the shortest route obtained via Global Positioning System and live traffic feeds. Read more

New reservoirs to boost S’pore’s water supply [News]

Singapore’s water supply received a boost with the opening of the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs.

This brings the total number of reservoirs in Singapore to 17.

The reservoirs were created by the damming of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon. Both reservoirs can meet about five per cent of the country’s water needs and will collect rainwater from estates and areas within Punggol and Sengkang, as well as parts of Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.

Together with the Marina Reservoir, they increase the water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore. Read more

S’pore explores new technology to treat drinking water [News]

A new technology is being tested for its potential to treat drinking water in Singapore.

A S$5 million water treatment plant, which will use ceramic membrane technology to treat drinking water, has been built at the Choa Chu Kang Waterworks after two years of planning.

The “demonstration plant” is funded by a grant from the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Read more

The Green Business Times Guide to Singapore Government Funding and Incentives for the Environment

Singapore is well-known as a clean and green city with the government striving for environmental sustainability while growing the economy. The government has also identified Environmental and Water Technologies (EWT) including Clean Energy as strategic areas where Singapore has a competitive edge and which could generate future economic growth.

To accelerate the growth of the environmental industry and to maintain Singapore’s image as a clean and green city, the government has initiated several funding and incentive schemes related to energy efficiency, clean energy, green buildings, water and environmental technologies, green transport, waste minimisation, environmental management system, environmental initiatives, clean development mechanism, and green IT.

The funding and incentive schemes are provided by government agencies such as:

• Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
• Economic Development Board (EDB)
• Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA)
• Land Transport Authority (LTA)
• Energy Market Authority (EMA)
• National Environment Agency (NEA)
• National Parks Board (NParks)
• PUB, the national water agency (PUB)
• SPRING Singapore (SPRING)
• Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

To help businesses understand what’s available, we have compiled a list of 33 government funding and incentives for the environment:

1. Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe)
2. Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)
3. One-Year Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Energy Efficient Equipment and Technology (One-Year ADAS)
4. Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)
5. SCEM Training Grant
6. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
7. Energy Research Development Fund (ERDF)
8. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)
9. Market Development Fund
10. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB)
11. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for New Buildings (GMIS-NB)
12. Green Mark Incentive Scheme – Design Prototype (GMIS-DP)
13. Green Mark Gross Floor Area Incentive Scheme (GM-GFA)
14. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment
15. A*STAR-MND Joint Grant Call
16. Pilot Incentive Scheme for Green Roofs
17. Gross Floor Area Incentives for Outdoor Refreshment Area on Rooftops
18. Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
19. Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
20. Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
21. Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
22. Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
23. Innovation Voucher Scheme
24. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
25. Land Transport Innovation Fund (LTIF)
26. Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR)
27. Transport Technology Innovation and Development Scheme (TIDES+)
28. 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Fund
29. Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
30. Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS)
31. 3P Partnership Fund
32. Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant
33. Infocomm Leadership and Development Programme (iLEAD)

If we missed out any funding or incentive scheme, do let us know. Thanks! Read more

New projects in Singapore’s water industry since 2006 will add S$590 million to GDP and 2,300 jobs [Press Releases]

The Singapore water industry has shown significant progress since it was identified as a strategic growth area in 2006. To date, Singapore is home to a thriving water industry of more than 70 local and international companies. Investments by water companies in the period of 2006 to 2010, when fully realised, will add S$590 million of annual value-added to our economy and generate 2,300 professional and skilled jobs. Singapore-based water companies have also done well in serving the international market, with cumulative project value reaching S$8.4 billion¹ over the same period.

The Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI), an inter-agency effort led by PUB, the national water agency, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, will continue to build on the strengths of Singapore’s water industry to achieve its target contribution of S$1.7 billion to Singapore’s GDP and 11,000 jobs by 2015. Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »