So-called NEWater is water that has been collected after use and processed through complex procedures to meet standards for reuse.
According to reports, Singapore's NEWater is purified through an advanced three-stage purification process.
The first stage of purification involves using microfiltration fibers to filter out viruses from the water.
The second stage is reverse osmosis, which removes all remaining impurities, viruses, and even salts from the water. Once this step is completed, the water is actually purer than the current tap water we drink. However, to ensure nothing is missed, a third stage of purification—ultraviolet radiation disinfection—is added to make NEWater absolutely safe.
It is understood that most Singaporean citizens are now able to accept NEWater as drinking water. The Singaporean government plans to increase NEWater production to 55 million gallons by 2010, accounting for more than 15% of the country's total water consumption.
Another channel for Singapore to address water resources is seawater desalination. Surrounded by the sea, Singapore has an inexhaustible supply of seawater. Singapore's seawater desalination technology is currently among the most advanced in the world. However, the current cost of seawater desalination remains high, making it difficult to popularize, and large-scale production will still take time.
