International expert on microbiology, Professor Joan Bray Rose was honored with the Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) for her expertise and contributions to Singapore’s water management at the National Day Awards Investiture held at the NUS University Cultural Centre this evening. The Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) is awarded to foreign individuals who have rendered commendable public service in Singapore.

 

Currently the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, USA and the chairperson of national water agency PUB’s External Audit Panel, Professor Rose has made significant contributions to the development of NEWater as one of Singapore’s water sources. Launched in 2003, NEWater is ultra-clean, high-grade reclaimed water produced using advanced membrane technologies. Today, NEWater is the pillar of PUB’s Four National Taps, a long-term water supply strategy to ensure a robust and sustainable supply of water for Singapore.

 

“I am so honored to be able to play a part in the development and introduction of a new and sustainable source of water for Singapore. As the world faces growing water scarcity, water reuse has become a viable solution and is now gaining traction around the globe. By tapping on advancements in technology, Singapore has demonstrated that water reuse can be a viable and essential part of the water supply system. The quality of NEWater has proven to be consistently high all these years and there is great potential for NEWater to be used beyond its current limits in Singapore, especially in times of emergencies or prolonged dry weather,” said Professor Rose.

 

In a letter to congratulate Prof Rose on the award, PUB Chairman Tan Gee Paw noted, “This award is a well-deserved recognition of your valuable and good service to PUB and Singapore and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your valuable contributions.”

 

Professor Rose’s contribution began almost ten years ago in 1998, when she was an independent expert in the NEWater Expert Panel assessing the quality of NEWater. It was the same year that the then Ministry of the Environment and PUB had jointly set up a study team to test the use of the latest proven membrane technology in water reclamation for potable purposes after a failed venture some twenty years back. Comprising international experts in engineering, biomedical sciences, chemistry and water technology, the panel provided independent advice, reviews and evaluation of the results and findings of the NEWater study and evaluated the suitability of NEWater for potable use.

 

At that time, membrane technology had started to gain momentum in the United States, with improvements in both performance and cost. There was also a growing trend for its use in treatment and water reclamation in other countries. Leveraging on the advancements in technology, PUB revisited its water reuse plans and two years later, a full-scale demonstration plant that could churn out 10,000 cubic metres a day was commissioned.

 

To ensure that NEWater was of the highest quality, a comprehensive water sampling and analysis programme was implemented, with quality standards benchmarked against the World Health Organization (WHO) Drinking Water Guidelines and United States Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Standards. Leading water testing laboratories in Singapore carried out extensive physical, chemical and microbiological tests at various stages of the production process over a two-year period.

 

As a member of the NEWater expert panel, Professor Rose studied and reviewed the data for two years before the panel concluded and endorsed that NEWater was consistently of a safe, high quality, well within the requirements of the WHO and EPA for drinking water and was therefore, a safe and sustainable source of water for Singapore.

 

A former recipient of the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Water Prize and previous Chair of USEPA Drinking Water Committee, Prof Rose’s independent views and personal endorsement of NEWater were instrumental in boosting PUB’s public communications campaign to achieve high public confidence in the quality and safety of NEWater. 

 

Professor Rose’s contribution to Singapore continues with her appointment as the Chairperson of the External Audit Panel in 2003 till to date. The External Audit Panel comprising both local and independent experts is an important part of PUB’s commitment in ensuring that the water supplied by PUB is safe for drinking and for use by the industries.

 

During her most recent visit to Singapore in July 2009, the panel had unanimously given the thumbs up to NEWater, noting that it continues to exceed the Environmental Public Health (EPH) and USEPA drinking water standards as well as the drinking water guidelines established by WHO and is therefore, safe as a source of water supply.

 

“I have been very impressed with what Singapore has achieved in the last 40 years. From a small fledging island struggling with water challenges, Singapore has evolved into a model for sustainable water management through relentless pursuit of R&D. NEWater, in particular, has been the fruit of this investment and I want to bring this story back to the United States so we that we can learn from this experience,” added Prof Rose.

 

Introduced in 2003, NEWater, Singapore’s own brand of reclaimed water, is ultra-clean, high-grade reclaimed water produced using advanced membrane technologies. Vetted by more than 65,000 scientific tests, NEWater surpasses the Environmental Public Health (EPH) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking water standards as well as the drinking water guidelines established by World Health Organisation (WHO).

 

NEWater is the pillar of Singapore’s long-term water supply strategy known as the Four National Taps comprising water from local catchments, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water.

 

Four NEWater plants currently meet more than 15 percent of Singapore’s total daily water needs. The latest and largest NEWater facility to date, with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day, is being built on top of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant. With the combined capacities of the five plants, NEWater can meet 30 percent of Singapore's daily water needs by 2010.

As one of the pioneers of large-scale water reclamation, PUB recognised the importance of public acceptance in the implementation of reclaimed water from the outset.

 

Prior to the launch of NEWater in 2003, extensive briefings were held for various groups such as the community leaders, business communities and other government agencies. The media were also briefed and an educational tour was organised where they visited parts of the US and Europe where water reuse had been successfully adopted for many years. A documentary to educate the public on the technology of NEWater and the experience of other countries in the use of reclaimed water was also broadcast on television.

 

An independent survey by Forbes Research at the end of 2002 showed that NEWater had garnered a 98 per cent acceptance rate, with 82 per cent of respondents indicating that they would drink NEWater directly and another 16 per cent would drink it mixed with reservoir water.

 

A more sustained public education programme followed, with the setting up of the NEWater Visitor Centre in early 2003. The pillar of PUB’s public education on NEWater, the NEWater Visitor Centre offers visitors a learning experience to understand how NEWater is produced and how it plays a part in Singapore’s water strategy. PUB has also been distributing bottled NEWater for public sampling, with more than 15 million bottles distributed so far.

 

More than 700,000 visitors have visited the centre since its opening. It was named Best Sightseeing/Leisure/Educational Programme at the 2005 Singapore Tourism Awards. The NEWater Visitor Centre also clinched the highly recommended award under the International Water Association (IWA) – Marketing and Communication Award for School Information Programme.

 

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