NEWater

With the growing global human population, the change in the climate and the demands of AI datacentres, fresh drinking water is increasingly becoming a strategic resource. We regularly hear in the media of tensions over resources such as oil and rare earths, but maybe in the future access to fresh drinking water, regrettably, might also become a flashpoint.

Singapore has been aware of the importance of water since its independence. It has historically been heavily dependent on Malaysia for water, but over the years has developed various means of reducing this dependence including desalination and recycling.

NEWater is the brand name of Singapore’s reclaimed wastewater that has been purified through advanced membrane technologies and ultraviolet disinfection. It is safe to drink and currently can meet up to 40% of the nation's total water demand. Whilst the thought of drinking recycled water might be disconcerting to some, it is something astronauts have been used to for a long time. NEWater is ultra-clean and exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. It is actually much purer than standard tap water, containing almost no dissolved salts, minerals, or organic matter. Indeed, NEWater is mostly used for non-drinking purposes: there is a high demand for such pure water by for instance the wafer fabrication industry.

A NEWater Visitor Centre opened in 2003 to promote water sustainability. It was a must for primary school children and adults alike to go there as a learning journey. It closed on 31st July 2024. There is, however, an excellent webpage to visit if you want to learn more: NEWater | PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency (accessed 2/8/26).

---