Managing Singapore's water

SINGAPORE International Foundation is hosting a major event on Friday to discuss the past, present and future of water in the city-state.

The past four decades of water management in Singapore have been one of long-term visionary planning, strong political support from the highest levels of the government, followed by timely execution. It has been underpinned consistently by responsible leaderships, relentless pursuit of economic growth, steady improvements in living standards and perpetual quest for sustainable development. The result is a true success story of self-reliance, creation of growth opportunities, good governance, notwithstanding the scarcity of natural resources that might normally impede such a development process.

When Singapore became independent in 1965, its urban water management was similar to any Third World city. For example, in December 1969, floods claimed five lives and caused damages of S$4.3 million (in 1969 prices. The flood-prone area in Singapore was 12.8 per cent of the island, equivalent to about 6,900 hectares. Modern sanitation services were available to only half the total population, which was then around two million people. Night-soil bucket collection services existed until the 1980s.