Singapore: a tech-savvy approach to water shortage

Modern technologies are the 21st century’s gift to humankind. They not only offer solutions to digital and scientific problems but also provide clear answers to today’s main issue: environmental pollution.  Unfortunately, today, a quarter of the world lives in areas of high water stress. However, experts say that humans are consuming natural resources faster than the earth can restock them.

Environmental monitoring, environmental technology (ENVIROTECH), clean technology (CLEANTECH), and green technology (GREENTECH) are all creations of modern technological development. They aid cities in sustaining clean habitat and nature-friendly environment. In addition, Singapore has been known to have a noticeable water shortage and has been fighting the drinkable water problematics for years. Now it uses up to 430 million gallons of water every day. However, state authorities say that they expect the number to double in the next four decades. In addition, that kind of consumption has huge pressure on the Asian city. Environmental experts are concerned about global water scarcity and its effects on Singapore’s water shortage. Therefore, it is building new technology to prepare itself for a future, where obtaining clean water will be even much harder.

Shane Snyder, an executive director of Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, stated that Singapore imports approximately 40% of its water today. However, rapid urbanization and rising global temperatures are making access to natural water sources increasingly hard. Climate change made water sources even more unreliable, and that is why Singapore has started working on becoming a global water hub.

How is Singapore dealing with water?

More than five million people live in Singapore. It is covered in beautiful fountains and a variety of reservoirs. This includes one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It is a 130-foot Rain Vortex that pushes 10 000 gallons of water every minute. What is even more amazing is that it has no natural water sources of its own. However, it is relying purely on recycled water and imports from its neighbors.

Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute is one of several places developing solutions for Singapore’s water dependency. Also, the hope is to create projects that could be used across the city. Humans need to be thinking about the infrastructure in advance.

Singapore is motivated to control its water technologies.

What is the secret eco-technology?

However, there is one tiny thing that has made a breakthrough in water sustaining technology. It might sound ridiculous, but it is a small, black sponge called carbon fiber aerogel.
Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute has worked hard on creating it.  Also, the university says that it can clean wastewater on a mass scale. The sponge absorbs 190 times its weight in waste, contaminants, and microplastics.

For now, EcoWorth Technology is developing the material for massive commercial use. CEO Andre Stoltz stated that the company firstly, will enter Singapore’s wastewater market and then develop this material for use on a global scale.

Also, another company, WateRoam, is already taking innovation from Singapore to the rest of the region. The company has created a lightweight, portable filtration device. In addition, it has already provided clean drinking water to more than 75,000 people across Southeast Asia.

Singapore is taking huge steps in taking care of its ecology and water resources, let us hope the rest of the world will follow its lead.