BY KATRINA HAMLIN AND ANTONY CURRIE

Singapore could use a fresh approach to water. An early focus on H2O management helped the city-state achieve economic success, and lessened its reliance on foreign sources. But water independence could become a distracting pipe dream.

After an acrimonious split from Malaysia, it made sense for Singapore’s leaders to lessen their near-total dependence on flows from the northern neighbour’s rivers, even if these were regulated by treaties.

So the Lion State learned to make a little go a long way. GDP per cubic metre of freshwater hit $1,065 in 2013, more than 35 times higher than the United States, the World Bank says. It helps that there is very little farming – leaving more for homes and thirsty factories.

And Singapore has also engineered some ingenious ways to top up reserves. The country has converted much of its limited land into a giant rainwater catchment. Treated seawater and recycled wastewater, which it calls NEWater, can now provide around half of supply if needed. Little is wasted: pipe leakage rates, below 5 percent, are among the lowest in the world.

Malaysia still provides a significant chunk of Singapore’s water supplies, but the final treaty will expire in 2061 and the Singaporean government does not plan to renew it. Instead, it wants to pump up desalinated and recycled stocks to satisfy as much as four-fifths of total consumption.

That will be no mean feat. Singapore’s current population of 5 million could jump by a third in the next 15 years, according to official estimates. It might even double by 2100, says the former chief planner.

First published Aug. 3, 2015

IMAGE: REUTERS/Edgar Su