The dry spell has been persisting since February, though I
did notice a trace of drizzle for a few minutes in Tampines today. To deal with
the ongoing dry weather, I saw on the news that contingency plans to step up
desalination and NEWater production is already in place. Compared to challenging
times where water rationing is needed, our lives are just a little bit
inconvenienced by the scorching weather.
This thought triggers the realization that we Singaporeans
are actually quite complacent and that there will always be enough water supply
for the citizens. There was some talk about the possibility of water rationing
last year, but I believe no one would have imagined that really happening. The
level of confidence we have in our water security is ironically, worrying.
Given our climate, we can be sure that dry spells recur every
year. However, exercises to urge citizens to take ownership on water
conservation have been largely unsuccessful. Yet this problem has to be
addressed and it seems that one of the solutions is to have sustainable green architecture
with water-saving features.
Let’s look at some of these examples:
Jem Retail Mall
Jem is the first
mixed use development in Singapore to achieve BCA’s Green Mark
Platinum Version 4.0 award, the highest certification for sustainable
buildings..
Some of the water saving features include a
- Rainwater
harvesting system
- Condensate water collection
Water Savings: Estimated 265,160 m3/year (~1000 times of an Olympic size swimming pool
(250m3))
PARKROYAL on Pickering
PARKROYAL on Pickering is situated in the heart of Raffles place and has a distinct nature lanscape amidst its architecture.
Some of the water saving features include a
- Rainwater
harvesting and use of NEWater,
- Water efficient fittings
- Automatic sensors to regulate water
usage
Water Savings: Estimated 6,900 m3 /year
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove
Been here for a friend's wedding once, it feels like you never stepped out of nature.
Some of the water saving features include
- Water efficient
fittings
- Rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater for irrigation and
nonpotable use
- Condensate water collection
Water Savings: Estimated 22,200 m³/year
Solaris
Tucked in a corner of One-North business district, Solaris is a two-tower building with innovative green furnishments.
Some of the water saving features include
- Eco-cell and rainwater harvesting via a network of siphonic
drainage systems
As mentioned on this year’s Budget, “sustainable urban
solutions” is one of the 5 growth areas. I believe we will see more of such
green buildings in the near future.
Other interesting trivia on Singapore’s dry spell
- Singapore is 140km north of the equator and will encounter dry
weather in February due to shifting of the monsoon season.
- The record so far of the dry spell is set in 2014 where
minimal rain was recorded for 27 days. The previous record was an 18-day dry
spell in 2008. If no rain is to persist this month, there is possibility of
setting a new record.
- Though dry months are typically January to March, May and June
are the hottest months of the year. Singapore's hottest temperature recorded was
in March 1998, when the highest temperature was 36 degrees Celsius.
Hope that this post will spark your appreciation for the
water conservation efforts taking place behind the scenes, and do your part to
save water!
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