PUB to build demonstration plant to test new water treatment technologies

PUB is planning to build a demonstration plant that will be used to test water treatment technologies at its Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - National water agency PUB will be building a demonstration plant that will be used to test water treatment technologies before they are implemented at the future Tuas Water Reclamation Plant.

Having a capacity of just 12,500 cu m a day, it is some 64 times smaller than the current Changi Water Reclamation Plant which treats 800,000 cu m of used water a day. It will however have all the functions of a typical water reclamation plant.

The main technology it will be testing is the use of a unique type of bacteria to remove fine particles in used water.

It is slated to be completed in 2017, and will be located at PUB's Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant. The plant will be fully automated and will also be used to train operators to use new water treatment technologies to be implemented.

Construction of the plant will be carried out by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Asia Pacific.

Mr Harry Seah, Chief Technology Officer of PUB, said: "These new and tested technologies will enable Tuas Water Reclamation Plant to be more eco-friendly, produce less sludge and have the capability of producing more biogas for power, while consuming lesser energy than conventional plants."

The Tuas Water Reclamation Plant is a key component of Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which is an underground "super highway" that will carry waste water from various parts of Singapore - including the downtown city area - to the plant.

The water will be treated before being either pumped out to sea or reclaimed as Newater, purified water mostly used by industries.

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