Thursday, September 1, 2011

Water-scare island


SINGAPORE is known for its human resource because it's only way to make city state popular among world's stage. It is just a tiny island and possess no natural resources even don't have enough water to provide its people needs. We all know that Singapore is even buying raw water from Malaysia and they have been cautious in handling this sensitive matter whenever the two nations come to cross. It became internally-self governing in 1959 and got fully independent from Malaysia two years later in 1965.

After split from Malaysia, its founders might have concern with the weak point of city state. It's considerable to fix other problems while lack of drinkable water is unsettled problem. It might have forced its leaders to make water agreements between two states. There were two such agreements made in 1961 and 1962. Yesterday, the 1961 water agreement expired and the city state handed over its facilities to Malaysia authorities. Subsequently, people became so much concern with the impact of ending this first agreement. Is PUB going to increase water bills in near future? How does this agreement contribute to the Singapore? Here are some facts that can make us a little understanding.

1961 water agreement is meant for 50 years contract to date. It allow city state to use 3 water catchment area in which Singapore have to pay land rental fees for S$5.00 an acre. Moreover, Singapore government needed to pay 3.00 cents for every 1,000 gallon raw water they are collecting. Also term limited the maximum quantity at 250 million gallon a day. The city state built water treatment facilities in Johor and sent purified water to back home. As per water resource minister, it only cover 5% of Singapore's needs. Regardless, this news might have made its people nervous. Singapore's current needs of water is 380 million gallons per day.

Minister Dr. Balakrishnan assured its people by explaining city state's effective replacement plan so called increase reservoirs, improvement of NEWater and desalinated water technology. In addition, there is one agreement still left and it'll be legal until 2061 due to 1990 supplement. Together both NEWater and desalinated water contribute 40% of Singapore needs now and it'ld be increased to 80% in 2061. It's incredible performance by a tiny state. The water minister insists that handover will not affect Singapore's water supply. But he didn't assure that PUB bills wont' be affected. It is, I think, the most conscious for all Singaporean. Anyway anyhow, for sure right now is

We all are drinking/using 40% of NEWater and desalinated water at the moment and it would be double at 2061. Hopefully, I wouldn't be reside in this island by the time Singaporean are enjoying 80% of those advanced treatment water. May all Singaporean be safe of water resource regardless of time.

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