Clean, sustainable energy can also help solve S’pore’s water challenge: Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE – Despite lacking natural water resources, Singapore today has technology to process the water it needs.

Now, the nation’s water dependency has shifted to an energy dependency, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said on March 17. Water-processing technology, such as desalination, can be highly energy-intensive.

While the war in the Middle East has highlighted the importance of securing the nation’s energy supply, Singapore should continue to look at ways to ensure a more efficient manner of securing clean, renewable energy, he said.

“If we can get clean, sustainable and renewable energy in quantity, we will also be able to solve our water challenge,” said Mr Chan, who is also Minister for Defence.

Singapore now has four sources of water: its reservoirs, imported water from Malaysia, desalination and recycling of used water.

Mr Chan was speaking at the launch of national water agency PUB’s annual water conservation campaign, held at the Suntec City atrium.

“It is not just the recent wars and conflicts that should make us think about a more efficient way of producing water... Over the longer term, with climate change, how to get clean, sustainable, renewable energy is a big challenge for Singapore,” he said.

“If water has been the existential challenge for the last 50 years, clean, renewable, sustainable energy will be our existential challenge for the next 50 years.”

At the campaign launch, PUB said Singapore’s household water consumption in 2025 dropped slightly, with each resident using 141 litres of water a day, down from 142 litres in 2024.

But the likes of sustained hybrid working arrangements and rising temperatures continue to place pressure on household water consumption, PUB added.

Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the Republic targets to achieve household water consumption of 130 litres per person a day by 2030.

The lowest consumption per person in the past 10 years is 141 litres, recorded in 2025, 2023, 2019 and 2018.

“This highlights the need for continued water-saving efforts at home, alongside stronger emphasis on improving water efficiency in the non-domestic sector, where future demand growth is expected,” PUB said.

To further help households save water, PUB launched a programme to assist selected one- to three-room HDB households adopt water-saving interventions.

Dubbed SG Water Saver Programme, the initiative includes interventions such as complimentary home water audits, leak repairs and the replacement of inefficient fittings.

The initiative is expected to benefit about 1,500 households in the first two years. PUB will progressively reach out to eligible households to share details.

Singapore’s total water demand is projected to almost double by 2065, with the non-domestic sector accounting for about two-thirds of demand, up from about 55 per cent in 2026, PUB said.

At the event, Mr Chan strongly encouraged businesses to manage their water demand. He said there is a competitive advantage when firms change their industrial processes to be more water-efficient or less water-intensive.

Businesses can also strengthen water efficiency through measures such as regular reviews of water use, adopting water-saving technologies and fostering a water-conscious workplace culture.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who was also at the event, said it is a “no regret” strategy for businesses to look at how they can reduce water usage and increase water efficiency while reducing costs.

“We are in a very uncertain world... So we are seeing from climate change (that) water is becoming an important issue, either too much water when there’s rain... or too little water when there’s drought,” she said.

Among businesses that have stepped up their water conservation efforts is semiconductor firm Micron Technology.

Mr Joshua Lee, its corporate vice-president and Singapore country manager, said that in Singapore, the firm deploys advanced water-recycling and reclamation systems on site, and also collects rainwater.

Such efforts have enabled the firm to use 98 per cent recycled water in its operations and recycle 43 per cent of used water in-house, he added.

Mr Chan noted that funding programmes by PUB, such as the Water Efficiency Fund, supported businesses in becoming water efficient.

Launched in 2007, the programme encourages organisations to seek efficient and innovative ways to manage their water demand.