Singapore to develop world's largest membrane bioreactor water reclamation plant

Singapore will start develop the detailed design of Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), the largest membrane bioreactor facility in the world, over the next two years, said Singapore's National Water Agency PUB in a press release on Monday.

Unlike conventional WRPs, the advanced Tuas WRP will use membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology to treat used water sources to higher standards.

Tuas WRP will be the largest MBR facility in the world, but with a 30 percent more compact footprint compared to conventional plants, PUB said.

The authority said that besides featuring an integrated NEWater factory, with an initial capacity of 25 million imperial gallons per day, Tuas WRP will also be co-located with an incineration facility to harness the potential synergies of the water-energy-waste nexus, making it more efficient and greener.

PUB has appointed CH2M Hill Singapore Pte Ltd as the Detailed Design Consultant for the Tuas WRP, a key component of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2.

The DTSS is a core water infrastructure which provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution to support Singapore's continued growth and meet its long-term needs for used water collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal, added the statement.

Yong Wei Hin, director of PUB's DTSS Phase 2 said the Tuas WRP enables PUB to not only meet the growing water needs of the industrial sector, but also ensures the continued reliability of NEWater, a kind of home-grown reclaimed water.

The construction of Tuas WRP is expected to commence in the second half of 2018. Endit