SINGAPORE - Singapore will build a new desalination plant at Tuas to help the nation treat more seawater to meet its growing water needs, said Minister of Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday.

The country currently uses about 400 million gallons of water a day, but this could almost double by the year 2060.

The new desalination plant will be the third in the country when it is completed in 2017. With it, Singapore will be able to produce up to 130 million gallons of water a day from seawater, up from the current 100 million gallons a day.

By 2060, Newater, which is treated used water, is expected to meet up to 55 per cent of Singapore's water demand, up from 30 per cent now.

Desalinated water, or treated sea water, will continue to meet 25 per cent of the increased water demand.