A desalination plant is being constructed at the reclaimed land in Tuas and is expected to be completed in 2003, when it is completed; it can provide 30 million gallons of water per day.

Another two plants are also being planned and expected to be completed in 2011.By then, all the three plants can provide 400 million litres of water per day.

Desalination processes available

1. Reverse Osmosis

• Water is pumped into the plant from the sea
• Solid particles are filtered away
• A second level of filter is applied to the water to ensure all particles are filtered.
• The water pressure is increased
• The water is then forced to pass through a semi-permeable membrane, which allows only water but not salt to pass through.
• The fresh water is ready for consumption
• Concentrated sea water is discharged back into the sea

Water obtained from reverse osmosis is less pure but still complies with WHO’s standards for drinking water. It also tastes better than distilled water.

2. Multi-Effect Distillation

3.Multi Stage Flush Distillation

Sea water is boiled off in 20 to 30 chambers, with the water vapour that is now free of salt collected and cooled for consumption.

The distillate is much purer than the water we get from our taps now. Minerals would have to be added to the water to replace those lost in the distillation process.

Both methods of desalination require extensive amounts of energy, heat in distillation to boil off the sea water and electricity to move the sea water in reverse osmosis, thus making desalination a very expensive process.

It is estimated that desalinated water would cost about eight times as much as the present treated water.