In the article titled “S’pore’s fifth desalination plant opens on Jurong Island”, written by Qing (2022), functions and features of Jurong island desalination plant are well described. Desalination is a water treatment process which aims to convert seawater into potable water. According to Qing (2022), Jurong island desalination plant receives seawater used to cool the complex, a utility plant supplying steam and electricity for chemical companies on Jurong Island for processing into potable water. The plant processes consist of dissolved air flotation, ultrafiltration and seawater reverse osmosis which removes pollutants such as dissolved salt, minerals, bacteria, etc. One notable feature is that this highly automated plant only requires two to three people to operate, making it the most manpower efficient plant in Singapore. Moreover, Public Utilities Board (2023) mentioned that its strategic location alongside Tuas Power’s Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex enable it to derive synergies in resources such as seawater-intake and energy, resulting in approximately 5% more energy-efficient compared to conventional desalination plants. This 5% might seem measly and insignificant but according to Public Utilities Board (2023), it amounts to an "annual energy savings sufficient to power nearly 1,000 households".
Jurong island desalination plant
has the potential to generate unlimited potable water and be a reliable
source, independent from weather or climate changes. However, negative
environmental impacts can arise.
Desalination can generate unlimited potable water due to its
ability to convert the vast amount of seawater available in this world into
potable water. McCandless et al. (2023) states that seawater accounts for more
than 96% of all water on Earth. With an abundant of seawater, the desirability
for desalination is high. Desalination offers a revolutionary approach to the
industry of water treatment; allowing humans to harness our natural resources
effectively and convert them to valuable resources. Desalination is regarded by
most experts to be the only currently available
technology capable of countering high water demands, but it comes with its
drawbacks Goergen (2022). This shows that desalination is highly supported by
the opinions of experts, but the drawbacks are also acknowledged. Therefore,
desalination has the potential to solve future water demand problems if the
drawbacks are minimised and well managed.
Additionally, desalination can act as a reliable source of
water, independent from weather and climate changes. For example, water
scarcity is a serious issue in the Middle East. Majority of desalination plants
are in the Middle East as the arid regions have no fresh water sources to
sustain the population McCandless et al. (2023). Desalination is extremely
crucial and necessary in countries that lack water due to their climate and
weather nature. According to Chenoweth and AI-Masri (2023), Saudi Arabia plans
to build a new city in 2045, to accommodate 9 million people and water
intensive sectors like agriculture. Therefore, growth in desalination plant is
expected, as the city will depend on water desalinated from the Red Sea and
Gulf of Aqaba. Despite facing water scarcity due to their geographical
location, countries in Middle East are still able to develop themselves with
the existence of desalination. This highlights the significant role played by
desalination and its importance to Middle East, given its independence from
weather and climate changes.
On the other hand, negative environmental impacts can arise from
desalination, detrimental enough to reconsider the idea of desalination. Williams (2022) mentioned that to produce 95 million cubic metres of
freshwater, 141.5 million cubic metres of brine is produced as waste.
Desalination plants discharge brine into waterbodies. Brine is more saline than
seawater, it lowers oxygen quantity and contains toxins like chlorine and copper
which pose a threat to marine life Williams (2022).
Furthermore, desalination is energy intensive so large amount of fossil fuels
are burnt. This result in increase of carbon footprint which contributes to
global warming.
Desalination is extremely crucial to Singapore
as we lack water as a natural resource. Despite the disadvantages of
desalination, desalination projects have been ongoing in Singapore since 2005 Public
Utilities Board (2023). The first desalination
plant was built in 2005. Now equipped with the latest proven water technologies
at Jurong island desalination plant, desalination
can be a sustainable solution to mitigate the escalating water demands
projected to double by 2060 in Singapore. While we strive for future water
stability, the disadvantages of desalination are being actively minimised at Jurong
island desalination plant.
In conclusion, the advantages of Jurong island desalination
plant have been proven and shown that it can be a sustainable solution to
mitigating water demands in the future. Nevertheless, it is important to seek
solutions to reduce and manage the disadvantages of Jurong island desalination
plant. Currently, there are much research been done by Public Utilities Board
as well as researchers from other countries. Only time will tell if there is a
breakthrough in terms of reducing the negative aspect of desalination.
References
Chenoweth,
J., & Al-Masri, R. A. (2023, January 19). Desalination could give the
Middle East water
without
damaging marine life. but it must be managed carefully. Phys.org.
Goergen, R. (2022, August 2). The
future of desalination.
https://geographical.co.uk/science-environment/the-future-of-desalination
McCandless, R., Price, M., & Egrican,K. (2023, February 8).
Desalination: Leveraging the potential of
seawater.
https://www.stantec.com/en/ideas/topic/stantec-era/desalination-leveraging-the-potential-of-seawater
Public Utilities
Board. (2023, November 29). Desalinated Water.
https://www.pub.gov.sg/Public/WaterLoop/OurWaterStory/DesalinatedWater
Qing, A. (2022,
April 17). S’pore’s fifth desalination plant opens on Jurong Island. The
Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-fifth-desalination-plant-opens-on-jurong-island
Williams, K. (2022, December 16). The
desalination process gives us freshwater – at a huge environmental cost. World
Economic Forum.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/12/desalination-process-freshwater-negative-environmental-cost/
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