Topic 4.5

Topic 4.5: How can water be managed sustainably?

By Serene F

Sustainable management of water (TB Pg. 86)

Strategies that help to ensure there is an adequate supply water for human activities in the short term  and long term.

1. Improve water quality by laws

2. Reduce water consumption by public education

3. Improve water technologies

4. Importing water

Strategies:
Make sure these area written down in TB Pg. 86

1. How do countries improve water quality?
   (TB Pg. 86)

Water quality is determined by considering factors like temperature, amount of dissolved oxygen, turbidity (how cloudy the water is) and pH.

1. How do countries improve water quality?
   (TB Pg. 86)

Countries often implement laws to maintain or improve water quality.

For example, under Singapore's Environmental Protection and Management (Trade Effluent) Regulations, industries are not allowed to release wastewater into water bodies without permission from the National Environment Agency.

Multiple Choice

Under Singapore's Environmental Protection and Management (Trade Effluent) Regulations, industries are not allowed to release wastewater into water bodies without permission from...

• Laws

• National Environment Agency

• Local council

Multiple Select

The main aspects that influence water quality are...

• temperature

• turbidity

• amount of dissolved oxygen

• pH level

• dirt

Multiple Choice

The main way that countries improve water quality is by...

• Importing water

• Cleaning

• Laws

1. Improve water quality by laws

2. Reduce water consumption by public education

3. Improve water technologies

4. Importing water

Strategies:
Make sure these area written down in TB Pg. 86

2. How do countries reduce water consumption? (TB Pg. 88)

• Water consumption tends to increase as a country’s economy and population grows, since more water is needed to support industries and meet the daily needs of the people.

• That is why countries can encourage people to conserve and treasure through public education.

The Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) grades water appliances with a tick rating so that people are aware of more water-efficient products in the market.

Example: Singapore's Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme

Example: in 2022, 300,000 households, businesses received new smart water meters

Multiple Choice

The main way that Singapore tries to reduce water consumption is through...

• public education

• laws

• importing water

1. Improve water quality by laws

2. Reduce water consumption by public education

3. Improve water technologies

4. Importing water

Strategies:
Make sure these area written down in TB Pg. 86

3. How do countries improve water technologies? (TB Pg. 91)

• Countries increasingly use technology to develop new ways of producing and conserving water.

• Over the decades, Singapore has built a diversified and sustainable water supply known as the 4 national taps.

​Newater and desalinated water are reliable water sources that do not depend on weather. This helps Singapore better cope with the threat of climate change. They are made possible through... innovation and... research and technology.

Desalination

• Desalination is a process where seawater is turned into drinking water.

• Desalination is a natural option for Singapore because it is an island surrounded by sea. However, seawater cannot be used directly because of its high salt content.

• Through desalination, PUB turns seawater into drinking water using advanced membrane technology.

• This process requires the use of energy to reduce the salt content of seawater to a level that is acceptable for use by industries and households.

• Currently, Singapore has five desalination plants.

​NEWATER (launched on 9 Aug 2002)

Reorder

Put the following steps in the desalination process in order from first to last

• pre-treatment

• reverse osmosis

• conditioning and disinfection

1

2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

Multiple Choice

How many desalination plants does Singapore have?

• 1

• 3

• 4

• 5

1. Improve water quality by laws

2. Reduce water consumption by public education

3. Improve water technologies

4. Importing water

Strategies:
Make sure these area written down in TB Pg. 86

Singapore's import of water from Malaysia

• Singapore imports water from Johor, Malaysia.

• To date, only two agreements on Singapore's import of water from Malaysia remains

• These will expire in 2061. By then, Singapore aims to rely on other management strategies to ensure it can produce enough water on its own to meet its people's needs.

• ​Singapore can draw 250 million gallons of water from Johor River every day.

• Singapore pays rend at a standard rate of 3 sen per 1,000 gallons of raw water drawn

• Singapore provides Johor with treated water every day, up to 2% of raw water drawn.

Multiple Choice

When does Singapore's two import of water agreements with Malaysia expire?

• 2030

• 2061

• 2070

• 2081

Multiple Choice

What would Singapore do after it's import of water agreements with Malaysia expire?

• Import water from elsewhere

• produce enough water on its own to meet people's needs

• Renew the agreement