PUB calls for proposal to build second NEWater Plant at Changi

SINGAPORE - National water agency PUB is inviting local and international companies to submit proposals for the construction of the second NEWater Plant at Changi.

To be completed by 2016, this plant will add anothe r 50 million Imperial gallons (mgd) or 228,000 cubic meters (cu m) of NEWater a day to the nation's water supply.

The pillar of Singapore's water sustainability, NEW ater is ultra-clean, high-grade reclaimed water that is produced using advanced membrane tech nologies. NEWater currently meets

30 per cent of Singapore's water demand, and this is set to increase up to 55 per cent in the longer term.

"Increasing NEWater capacity is necessary to meet t he growing water demand and strengthen the resilience of Singapore's water supp ly. NEWater is used primarily by the non- domestic sector for non-potable use as well as topp ing up local reservoirs during dry weather," said Koh Boon Aik, PUB's Director of Best Sourcing.

Like the first Changi NEWater Plant, the second pla nt will be constructed under a Design, Build, Own and Operate (DBOO) arrangement and utili se the same proven NEWater process that was developed by PUB. The plant's main process facilities will be built mostly on the rooftop of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant. This not only saves land but also the cost of laying pipes to convey the treated used water from the water reclamation plant to the NEWater plant.

The successful bidder will enter into a 25-year NEW ater agreement to supply NEWater to PUB, commencing from 2016. The NEWater agreement wi ll set out the tariff structure, terms and conditions for the supply and purchase of NEWat er.

"We have been adopting the Public-Private Partnersh ip (PPP) model to expand our water supply system in a cost-competitive manner since 20 05. These projects have been highly successful, ensuring a high quality and reliable wa ter supply at the most cost-effective manner as they tap on private sector's expertise as well as their capacity and flexibility to innovate. Through participating in these PPP projec ts, water companies can also gain experience, build up their track record, and they c an eventually export the expertise they gain from the project internationally," added Mr Koh.

The second NEWater Plant at Changi is PUB's fifth D BOO project. Previous DBOO projects include the 30mgd SingSpring Desalination Plant, 32 mgd Keppel-Seghers Ulu Pandan NEWater Plant, 50mgd SembCorp Changi NEWater Plant, and more recently, the 70mgd Tuaspring Desalination Plant.

NEWater is one of the four sources of water under P UB's Four National Taps, a long term water supply strategy to ensure a robust and sustai nable supply of water for Singapore. The other three sources are water from local catchments , imported water from Johor and desalinated water.

spanaech@sph.com.sg