Discover how Singapore is leading the way in earth-friendly urban development and water conservation...
A City in a Garden
Gardens by the Bay (www.gardensbythebay.org.sg) epitomises the Singapore National Parks' vision of creating a City in a Garden. Scheduled to open in 2011, Gardens by the Bay was designed to be the world's premier tropical Garden City - establishing Singapore's presence as a leading innovator in sustainable urban development.
With an aim of providing the ideal environment in which Singapore's residents can live and work, this 101-hectare site is made up of the Gardens at Marina South, Gardens at Marina East and Gardens at Marina Centre - stretching across the mouth of the Singapore River. Site preparation works started in April 2007, based on a winning design chosen from entries submitted as part of the 2006 International Master Plan Design Competition.
The National Parks Board is currently exploring sustainable energy and water technologies for the Gardens, including research on energy modelling and the latest in cooling technology. A commissioned study has shown how, by applying a combination of the newest cooling technologies, the Cooled Conservatories at Marina South will consume less energy than a commercial building of a similar size.
Ultimately, the Singapore Government's aim is for Gardens by the Bay to enrich the lifestyles and recreational activities of those living in Singapore, as well as tourists, through high-end edutainment opportunities and a sustainable green infrastructure, making the Lion City clean, green and a world-leader in eco-friendly infrastructure.
Singapore's largest and most advanced used water treatment facility, the Changi Water Reclamation Plant (Changi WRP), will be officially opened by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong on June 23, 2009, in conjunction with the second annual Singapore International Water Week (www.siww.com.sg).
The Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) - Singapore's superhighway for used water - is a 48-kilometre long tunnel which diverts used water from the eastern, northern and central parts of the island by gravity, to the Changi WRP - where 176 million gallons of used water will be treated every day. This large-scale collection of used water at one centralised plant frees up valuable land for other economic use. In addition, the Changi WRP is the first plant in the world to house a NEWater plant on top of its liquid treatment module - a design which is crucial in land-scarce Singapore. When completed in 2010, the NEWater plant will produce 50 million gallons of purified reclaimed water daily, using treated water from the Changi WRP.
The main driver behind these milestone projects is the PUB (www.pub.gov.sg), Singapore's national water agency, which has long worked towards establishing an independent water supply. PUB manages the entire water cycle - from sourcing to collection, purification and supply - and over the past 40 years has built a diversified water supply strategy. Known as the Four National Taps - local catchment water, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water - this strategy was developed through extensive investments in research and technology, enabling Singapore to lead the way in water conservation.
