MEWR’s mission, which also includes the work of MEWR's two statutory boards, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Public Utilities Board (PUB), is to deliver and sustain a clean and healthy environment and water resources for all in Singapore. We also want to grow and nurture a vibrant environmental and water industry to contribute to sustainable economic growth in Singapore. A total budget of $870.22 million has been allocated to MEWR in FY2007 to achieve this mission.

Sustainable and Affordable Water Supply

$468 million will be allocated to manage water resources. By 2011, two-thirds of Singapore will be used as water catchments.

• $124 million will be used to improve Singapore's drainage of stormwater for better flood control and water supply through projects like:
  
  

  -	Marina Barrage Project, which will act as a tidal barrier to control flooding in low-lying areas in the city, create a new reservoir to augment Singapore's water supply and serve as a major lifestyle attraction in Singapore's downtown;
  -	Improvement to old roadside drains including those under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP), to improve their structural components and increase their conveyance capacities.

• $303 million will be set aside mainly to invest in sewerage projects to manage our used water which would help keep water catchments clean for water supply and for Singaporeans to enjoy. Initiatives include:
  
  

  -	$30 million to extend and upgrade public sewerage reticulation system to collect all used water for treatment and proper disposal.
  -	$229 million to construct the new Changi Water Reclamation Plant, which together with the sea outfall, deep tunnels and link sewers under Phase I of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS), was conceived as a long-term solution to meet the need for used water collection and treatment and disposal to serve the development of Singapore through the 21st century.
  -	$14 million will be used for the Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme to remake our waterways, reservoirs and parks into aesthetically pleasing, vibrant and exciting lifestyle attractions for everyone to enjoy. Structural rehabilitation of waterways (such as Kallang River) will also be carried out as part of the aesthetic enhancement programme.

Good Ambient Air Quality

$31 million will be set aside to ensure that air quality continues to meet international standards, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and provide timely and reliable meteorological services through programmes like:

• Emissions control at source;
• Promotion of green vehicles;
• Weather forecasting and early warnings of natural events; and
• Regional collaboration on the transboundary smoke haze pollution.
  
  

Sustainable Solid Waste Management

$104 million will be allocated to ensure daily collection of waste, dispose of 2.6 million tonnes of waste by incineration and landfill, and promote waste minimisation and recycling.

These programmes include:

• National Recycling Programme;
• Voluntary Packaging Agreement to reduce packaging waste;
• Plastic bags campaign to reduce wastage of plastic bags; and
• Operation of refuse incineration plants and Semakau Landfill.
  
  

High Standard of Environmental Public Health

$219 million will be used to keep public areas free of litter, ensure a high standard of environmental public health and a low incidence of vector and food borne diseases through improvements in vector surveillance and control strategies, the promotion community participation, the upgrading of infrastructure and investment in R&D.

Such programmes include:

• Litter-free movement;
• Dengue Prevention and Control;
• Rat Attack;
• Research in dengue and vector-borne diseases;
• Neighbourhood Environmental Watch Scheme;
• Development of drinking water quality standards;
• Foodstall/Foodshop Grading;
• Upgrading of and improving vibrancy at Hawker Centres; and
• Prohibition of smoking at designated places.
  
  
  

Energy Efficient Economy

$8 million will be used to increase energy efficiency to improve economic competitiveness, enhance energy security, and reinforce the commitment towards addressing climate change.

These programmes include:

• Energy efficiency labelling scheme for air-cons and refrigerators;
• Fuel economy labelling scheme for passenger cars;
• Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme to promote energy efficiency in the manufacturing scheme;
• Innovation for Energy Sustainability fund to support innovative projects that improve energy efficiency or reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
• Public awareness and education on energy efficiency and climate change.
  
  
  

A Vibrant Environmental and Water Industry

MEWR, through the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) set up in May 06 under the Ministry, supports the National Research Foundation’s efforts and aims to grow the environmental and water industry, with technology as a key pillar. Singapore targets to grow value-added (VA) contribution from the water sector from $0.5 billion in 2003 to $1.7 billion by 2015. Jobs for the water sector are expected to double to about 11,000 in 2015, with a large part of the growth from professional and skilled jobs.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major strategies:

• Cluster Development: Develop the industry eco-system through anchoring of economic activities of local and foreign players in the environment and water industry in Singapore.
• Internationalisation: Help Singapore-based companies to expand their businesses and operations to capture a share of the global market.
• Capability Development: Build up the technology base of the industry to serve as its key driver and catalyse the growth of the industry from idea conceptualization to commercialization. This includes supporting R&D, test-bedding, encouraging early adoption of new technologies, bringing new technologies to the market (through incubators), and grooming specialist manpower.