Assessment Framework for Selection of Water Treatment Technology Vis-à-vis Long-term Resource Efficiency and Sustainability

Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what factors does the Government consider when deciding between building a NEWater plant and a desalination plant, particularly in light of the higher energy intensity and carbon footprint of the desalination process; and (b) how are sustainability and long-term resource efficiency weighed in such infrastructure planning decisions.

A NEWater plant recycles used water while a desalination plant produces a new drop of water from seawater. As the amount of NEWater that can be produced is limited by the amount of used water generated, desalination plants are also needed to increase and diversify our water supply. We will continue to reduce the energy consumption of the NEWater and desalination processes through research and development on energy-efficient technologies.