MEWR’s mission is to deliver and sustain a clean and healthy environment and water resources for all in Singapore. We also aim to grow and nurture a vibrant environment and water industry that contributes to sustainable economic growth in Singapore. A total budget of $1.09 billion has been allocated to MEWR in FY2009 to achieve this mission.

MEWR seeks to achieve the following outcomes:

• High standards of environmental health
• Good ambient air quality
• Sustainable solid waste management
• Energy efficient Singapore
• Sustainable and affordable water supply
• A vibrant environment and water industry

High Standards of Environmental Health

$252.8 million will be used to ensure a safe, clean and healthy environment to prevent the spread of vector-borne and food-borne diseases in Singapore. This is achieved through effective surveillance and control of vectors, keeping public areas clean, establishing a high standard of hygiene in food establishments, upgrading of hawker centres and markets, investment in R&D as well as building environmental ownership and increasing community participation among stakeholders.

Such programmes include:

• Dengue Prevention and Control;
  
  
  
  
• Research, Surveillance and Risk Assessment of vector-borne diseases;
• Provision of Public Street Cleansing services;
• Singapore-Litter-Free Campaign;
  
  
  
  
• Licensing and Grading of Food Stalls/Food Establishments;
• Enforcement of the smoking prohibition;
• Management of 109 hawker centres;
• Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme; and
  
  
  
  
• Management of government cemeteries, crematoria and columbaria.

Good Ambient Air Quality

$54.5 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.

These programmes include:

• Emission 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

$178.9 million will be allocated to ensure daily collection of waste, dispose 2.6 million tonnes of waste by incineration and landfill, and promote waste minimisation and recycling.

These programmes include:

• National Recycling Programme;
• Recycling Programme for Condominiums;
  
  
  
  
• School Recycling Programme;
  
  
  
  
• Voluntary Packaging Agreement to reduce packaging waste;
  
  
  
  
• Promotion of the 3Rs(Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) such as waste minimisation in industrial and commercial premises and reducing use of plastic shopping bags; and
• Operation of waste-to-energy plants and Semakau Landfill.
  
  

Energy Efficient Singapore

Energy efficiency is Singapore’s key strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change and at the same time improve economic competitiveness and enhance energy security. NEA leads a multi-agency, Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E²PO), to drive energy efficiency improvements in Singapore. The E²PO harnesses the combined expertise of the agencies to develop and implement a holistic national plan, known as E² Singapore, to improve energy efficiency in five key sectors: power generation, industry, transport, buildings and households.

E² Singapore aims to promote energy efficient technologies and measures, develop energy efficiency capability and raise awareness of energy efficiency among businesses and the public. $18.9 million will be allocated to fund programmes under the E² Singapore.

A new fund called the Sustainable Energy Fund has been introduced in 2008 to support energy efficiency initiatives such as:

• Design for Efficiency - co-funding for companies to engage energy efficiency experts to help incorporate energy efficiency considerations into the design of their industrial facilities;
• Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies - co-funding to encourage the adoption of energy efficient technologies;
• The Singapore Certified Energy Manager (SCEM) Training Grant - to cultivate 1000 SCEMs by 2012; and
• Energy efficiency conferences, workshops and seminars for knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices among industry players.

Further details of the energy efficiency initiatives can be found at E²PO’s website at www.e2singapore.gov.sg.

Sustainable and Affordable Water Supply

$370 million has been allocated to PUB to achieve the following outcomes:

• Improved Used Water Management
• Flood Alleviation
• Building a City of Gardens and Water

Improved Used Water Management

The Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) was conceived as our long term solution to meet Singapore’s needs for used water collection, treatment and disposal. With physical works completed in 2008, commissioning will take place in 2009. All used water from 3 of our existing water reclamation plants (Kim Chuan, Bedok and Seletar) in the northern and eastern part of Singapore will be channeled progressively to the new Changi Water Reclamation Plant by early 2011.

The Deep Tunnel

From 2009, Singapore’s used water network will be extended to serve new developments in the Jurong Lake District, Punggol Town, Marina South and Pasir Ris. The existing used water network in the Marina, Punggol-Serangoon and other catchment areas will be rehabilitated to strengthen its structural integrity and ensure operational reliability, thus preventing leakages and keeping water in the Marina Reservoir and other catchments clean.

$156 million will be spent to improve our used water management.

Flood Alleviation

PUB’s continual drainage improvement efforts have reduced the flood-prone areas in Singapore from 3,200 hectares in the 1970s to about 80 hectares by end of FY2008. One of the key efforts is the Marina Barrage, which was completed and commissioned in 2008. Apart from the barrage, other drainage improvement works will be carried out, such as increasing the capacity of the outlet drains at Tanglin Halt and Sungei Kallang in tandem with increasing developments in the areas, as well as improvement of old roadside drains to maintain their structural and conveyance capabilities. With the various schemes, PUB targets to further reduce the total flood prone areas to 66 hectares by FY2009.

The completed Marina Barrage (apart from improving drainage, the barrage also enables the creation of the first city reservoir in Singapore, and supports water-based and waterfront activities in the Marina Bay. The barrage itself is also growing as a recreational and lifestyle attraction.)

Sungei Seletar (before improvement)

Sungei Seletar (after improvement - which involve widening of the drain and reinforcement of the sides to maintain its conveyance capacity)

$190 million will be spent in FY2009 on drainage projects.

Building a City of Gardens and Water

The Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme will help transform Singapore into a City of Gardens and Water. The master plan for the ABC Waters Programme, unveiled in April 2008, shows the possibilities and opportunities for the transformation of Singapore’s waterways and reservoirs.

Completed ABC Waters Projects

The first two ABC Waters demonstration pilot projects at Kolam Ayer and Bedok Reservoir were completed in 2008, to strong support and involvement from the community.

Bedok Reservoir (Several new facilities such as a seating gallery, fishing deck and a stage, have been added on at the reservoir. With the new facilities, Bedok Reservoir is now an attractive venue for hosting community and international events.)

In FY2009, work will be carried out to develop other ABC Waters projects, such as Sungei Punggol, Alexandra Canal, Jurong Lake, Kallang River next to Bishan Park, Lower Seletar Reservoir and Pandan Reservoir. These will transform our network of drains, canals and reservoirs into beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes that are well integrated with surrounding parks and green space. They will create new community and recreational spaces and focal points, and will enhance our quality of living and the value of our homes.

Lower Seletar Reservoir (An artist’s impression of the “Family Bay”, a focal point for recreational activities and performances.)

$24 million will be spent in FY2009 on the ABC Waters Programme.

A Vibrant Environment and Water Industry

The Environment and Water Industry Development Council spearheads efforts to grow the water industry in Singapore and supports the National Research Foundation’s efforts to build up our R&D capabilities in water as driver for economic growth. We target to grow the value-added (VA) contribution from the water industry from $0.5 billion in 2003 to $1.7 billion by 2015, and double the number of jobs in this sector to 11,000 over the same period.

To achieve this outcome, we have adopted the following strategies:

• Capability Development: Build up the technology base of the industry, and develop the necessary talent and manpower to meet the needs of this growing sector.
• Cluster Development: Develop a vibrant eco-system of local and foreign players spanning the entire value chain of activities in the water sector.
• Internationalisation: Facilitate efforts by Singapore-based companies to expand their businesses and operations overseas so as to capture a share of the global market.

To find out more about the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and our initiatives, visit our website at www.mewr.gov.sg.