NEWater gets thumbs up by
experts
SINGAPORE: NEWater, Singapore's own brand of high-grade
reclaimed water, continues to surpass international quality
standards despite more rigorous audit process. This is the
unanimous verdict of a panel of international and local water
experts, after a week of extensive audit and review.
The so-called External Audit Panel concluded that "NEWater
continues to be consistently of high quality and exceeds the
Environmental Public Health's (EPH) and United States Environmental
Protection Agency's (USEPA) drinking water standards as well as the
drinking water guidelines established by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and is therefore, safe as a source of water
supply."
The comprehensive sampling and monitoring programme was established
in 1999 as part of the R&D for the development of NEWater and
has been gradually expanded from 190 physical, chemical and
microbiological parameters to more than 290 monitored today.
Professor Joan Rose, chairperson of the panel since its inception,
said: "We are very pleased to note that the high quality of NEWater
has remained consistent all these years. In tandem with the rapidly
evolving water R&D sector, the audit process has become more
rigorous over the years.
"Even with additional parameters to be monitored and lower levels
of detection through more sensitive instrumentation, NEWater still
goes beyond the mark in all measures of quality.
"This demonstrates that the quality of NEWater surpasses
international standards, and it also stands up well against the
criteria established in Singapore."
Professor Rose is also the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research,
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in Michigan State University,
USA.
Formed in November 2003, the seven-member External Audit Panel
comprises experts from various disciplines ranging from
engineering, water chemistry, toxicology and microbiology.
The panel was in Singapore for the 12th External Audit Panel
Meeting, which was held in conjunction with the recently-concluded
Singapore International Water week.
Because of its ultra-clean quality, NEWater is supplied to
high-tech industrial and commercial customers in Singapore,
especially those that have high-end processes like wafer
fabrication that require water of a higher quality.
In line with international practice, NEWater is mixed with raw
water in the reservoirs before undergoing further treatment at the
waterworks for supply as drinking water. The existing plan is to
progressively increase the amount of NEWater in reservoirs.
- CNA/ir