Nearly $100m to be pumped into municipal, industrial water solutions: Gan Kim Yong

The two sectors were selected as they are critical to Singapore’s economy and are among the most water-intensive, noted Gan.

PUB said it will bring together universities, trade associations and other stakeholders to develop and validate technologies that support these sectors.

It added: “Successful projects will be consolidated into a portfolio of water recycling and cooling technologies for local deployment and commercialisation opportunities.

“These projects will also be considered for deployment overseas, reinforcing our position as a global hydrohub for advanced water technologies, and generating longer-term economic and technological value for Singapore.”

Two agreements will be signed at the Singapore International Water Week to kickstart alliances that develop solutions for the wafer fabrication and data centre sectors.

Separately, PUB said the construction of the Tengah Service Reservoir, which cost about $120 million, was completed in November 2025.

Service reservoirs are critical infrastructure in Singapore’s water supply network, storing treated drinking water from PUB’s treatment plants before it is piped to homes and businesses.

Gan cited the reservoir as an example of how Singapore invests in water infrastructure to support a growing population and economy.

“The planning for the service reservoir, in fact, started 10 years ago, back in 2016,” he said.

“This is what long-term planning and investment means in practice. It is not only about expanding capacity. It is about building resilience ahead of demand, integrating water planning with urban and economic planning, and ensuring that future generations inherit systems that are robust and reliable.”

Located at the highest point of Tengah Town, the reservoir was built to support the projected rise in water demand of upcoming residential developments and businesses in Tengah.

The building has the capacity to hold about 22 Olympic-size swimming pools’ worth of potable water, according to PUB.

The agency said the service reservoir’s construction was the first time it had used the slipform construction method.

Its senior deputy director for network construction, David Loh, said the method enabled each tank wall to be completed over seven days, while eliminating the need for horizontal construction joints in these walls.

“This minimises potential leakage and enhances the watertightness and performance of the reservoir over its service lifetime,” he said.

When operational by the end of 2026, the Tengah Service Reservoir will join more than 10 service reservoirs that are operated remotely and monitored round the clock at PUB’s joint operations centre.

PUB said it had implemented measures to minimise impact on the surrounding habitat, as the service reservoir was developed in a patch of Tengah forest.

This was based on an environmental impact study for the service reservoir that was completed in November 2019, before mandatory disclosure was required for most projects.

Loh said several species of flora and fauna of conservation importance were identified. These included the locally vulnerable grey-headed fish eagle and the globally critically endangered straw-headed bulbul.

Implemented measures included a wildlife shepherding plan, inspections for active birds’ nests prior to vegetation clearance, and adjustments to the service reservoir design to reduce its footprint and affected forested area.

The Singapore International Water Week at Marina Bay Sands runs from June 16 to June 18.