Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1          Today, I am happy to join you in marking a crucial milestone in PUB’s strategy to ensure a sustainable supply of water for Singapore – the completion of tunnelling works for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, or DTSS.

Singapore’s Sewerage System

2          Today, Singapore is 100% sewered. However, as we grow and urbanise, we continually need to build more pumping stations and expand water reclamation plants to collect and treat the used water. Not only does this take up precious land space and require the set up of costly equipment for a high standard of water reclamation, in time to come, the entire sewerage system may become unsustainable.

3          PUB had conceived DTSS as an efficient and cost-effective solution for long-term used water management. Let me explain. The DTSS is based on the simple concept that used water can be conveyed through deep tunnels using the natural force of gravity to two centralised water reclamation plants. This would free up land, currently used to site the existing six Water Reclamation Plants (or WRPs) and 130 pumping stations, as well as the buffer land surrounding the WRPs. At the same time, due to economies of scale, the centralisation of used water treatment at two water reclamation plants will be more cost effective in the long run.

4          Today, I am proud to announce on behalf of PUB that tunnelling work for the North Tunnel, a 48-km long sewer tunnel running from Kranji to Changi, as well as the Spur Tunnel, which can cater for future expansion of the DTSS, is completed. Together with its component link sewers, more than half of Singapore’s used water can eventually be directed through the North Tunnel to the Changi Water Reclamation Plant for treatment, and the effluent will be discharged through the deep sea outfall into the Straits of Singapore.[1]

5          The construction of the DTSS is a praiseworthy feat of engineering. Both the North and Spur tunnels had been concurrently constructed using eight tunnel boring machines and had required the excavation of 1.5 million cubic metres of earth.  The fact that this has taken less than five years to complete, with adequate safety measures in place and without much disruption to public, is a testimony to the excellent working cooperation between both local and international contractors and designers, participants in six design-and-build contracts that make up the DTSS project.

Closing the Water Loop

6          The DTSS is a critical piece of the system that allows us to channel used water to Water Reclamation Plants and then on to NEWater factories, thus allowing us to “close the water loop”. Rapid improvements in technology have allowed us to successfully process treated used water into water that is more than fit for drinking.    With the increasing role of NEWater as one of our four National Taps[2], it is crucial that the system that caters to the provision of treated used water for NEWater factories is robust.

7          As we look forward to the completion of the entire project, I wish to commend the bold vision, meticulous planning and hard work of PUB’s DTSS engineers. I believe these are the same qualities that have gone into the planning and implementation of the strategy that has given Singaporeans a water supply that is clean, safe, adequate and reliable. However, PUB is not resting on its laurels – its water management strategy has in fact gone beyond this.

Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy

8          Indeed, PUB has already entered into a new phase to involve the 3P ( People, Private, Public) sectors in the management of our water resources. This 3P approach is embodied in PUB’s new tagline – Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy. I am pleased to unveil this tagline today.

9          With the four National Taps, PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore.  “Water For All” encapsulates PUB’s role in making certain that the four National Taps never run dry.

10        “Conserve, Value, Enjoy” conveys the critical dimensions of Singapore’s water management strategy. To provide water for all, every Singaporean should play his or her part to conserve water, keep Singapore’s water catchments clean, and build a closer relationship with water through enjoying its water resources.  If all of us do this, we can take heart that we have played our part to sustain this precious and scarce resource for our loved ones and generations to come. Singaporeans can and will have sufficient water for all uses – for living, for life, for industry.

11        In closing, allow me to again congratulate all the contractors, designers, consultants, workers and other project partners who have dedicated their expertise and spared no efforts to see through the successful completion of this deep tunnel. I wish everyone involved smooth and timely progress towards the next milestone of the DTSS and beyond. Thank you.