Comparison of Unit Costs and Energy Intensity of Singapore's Water Sources over Past Five Years and Balancing Water Security with Affordability

Mr Jackson Lam asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) over the past five years, how does the unit cost and energy intensity of desalinated water compare with NEWater and imported water; (b) how are these costs expected to evolve with a sixth desalinated water plant; and (c) how will the Government balance water security with long-term affordability.

Desalinated water is more energy-intensive and costly than NEWater and imported water but is necessary as a weather-resilient source and one of our Four National Taps.

As with all of its new plants, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) will introduce the latest proven technologies in the sixth desalination plant. Some of these will reduce the cost of producing desalinated water. For instance, PUB is exploring technologies, such as ultra-permeable membranes and ceramic membranes, to bring down the energy intensity of desalination.

PUB will need to make the necessary investments in water infrastructure so that it can continue to meet Singapore's growing water demand. Our water conservation efforts help to moderate the demand growth and reduce the need for additional water infrastructure and its associated costs.