Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Institution of Civil Engineers
CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER SECURITY AND FLOODING
LETTER TO
THE CLERK
OF THE
COMMITTEE FROM
CHRIS BINNIE,
MEMBER OF
THE INSTITUTION
OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS WATER
BOARD, 14 MAY
2004
During the oral evidence given to the Committee
by Graham Setterfield and myself on behalf of the ICE I gave an
outline of some of the measures used in Singapore to control demand.
I was asked by the Committee to submit further written evidence
on this topic and subsequently this was requested by 14th May.Whilst
I was visiting and living in Singapore from 1996 to 1998 I gave
the keynote address to the UN Conference on the Efficient Water
Use in Urban Areas and similar on the Effect of Climate Change
on Water in South East Asia at Asia Water in Hong Kong. I attach
a photo copy of part of one of the associated published documents.[6]
My suggestion is that you use this letter and the attachment as
the response to the EFRA Committee.
I set out below some supporting information
and comment.
Singapore is a modern city of some four million
people living on an island about the size of the Isle of Wight.
The water supply system is controlled by the Public Utilities
Board, a State organisation. About 60% of the water supply comes
from Malaysia, a country with whom there is a rather prickly relationship
and hence the Singaporeans are concerned that the Malaysian source
could physically be turned off at any time. Hence the concern
of the PUB is not only economic efficiency but also potential
national survival.
Most people live in modern high rise blocks
so most water supplies are to the apartment block. All water supplied
is metered. As small diameter local transmission pipes barely
exist and the topography is low and the island compact hence the
water pressure in the mains is low, the leakage from the pipes
is low.
However, there is appreciable modern industry,
all at the high value added end and much of it in the petrochemical
sector. There is therefore a significant requirement for industrial
water. On page 85 para (e) the description of the Singapore water
supply system states "A procedure was jointly established
with the Economic Development Board and Jurong Town Corporation
in 1983 to scrutinise all applications for industrial where the
anticipated water requirements of the company exceeds 500 cu.m/month.
The procedure requires all applicants to undertake to adopt various
water conservation measures to reduce their potable water requirement
before their applications are approved." The Jurong Town
Corporation covers the main area zoned for industry in Singapore.
On page 84 para 55(b) it states "Water
audits are carried out each year and visits are made to large
customers such as industries, commercial establishments, hotels,
condominiums etc to check on their consumption and advise them
on water conservation measures."
This practice of requiring all new industries
to obtain approval to their water conservation measures as part
of the development plan application is good. The annual water
audits ensure that the systems continue to be used and if necessary
upgraded.
However there is little new heavy water using
industries in UK so the effect in England and Wales would be of
less effect. However with climate change this could change with
for instance more air-conditioning and for instance more farmers
and horticulturists drawing their water from the public supply.
The EFRA Committee may wish to question water
companies and the Environment Agency who run the Water Demand
Management Centre whether they consider that adding a similar
requirement to the Planning System in this country would be of
benefit.
I hope that this information is of help to the
Committee.
Chris Binnie
Institution of Civil Engineers
May 2004
6 Not printed. 10th IWSA-ASPAC Regional Conference
and Exhibition: Commemorative Album, Water Hong Kong 1996,
pp 84-86. Back
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