SINGAPORE, May 20, 2009 -- The WateReuse Foundation and PUB, Singapore's national water agency, signed a research agreement to co-fund up to US$5 million worth of research that will help water agencies worldwide provide a sustainable water supply, while enhancing the environment and protecting public health. The agreement was signed during the WateReuse Foundation's 13th Annual Water Reuse & Desalination Research Conference in Huntington Beach, California today.
"There has never been a greater need to ensure that everyone on the planet has access to a safe and sustainable water supply," said Wade Miller, Executive Director of the WateReuse Foundation. "This partnership will allow our two organizations to pool resources and make a greater impact on advancing the science behind providing alternative sources of water supply."
"We look forward to developing a scientific and technological alliance that will create synergies and value in water research," said Mr Harry Seah, Director of PUBs Technology and Water Quality Office. "The sharing of expertise and knowledge between the two organizations will be beneficial to both Singapore's research community as well as the rest of the water industry."
Under the agreement, each organization will set aside up to US$500,000 annually over the next five years to fund research of mutual interest in areas such as water reuse, recycling, reclamation, and desalination. The research will be managed by one or both organizations and the results will be shared and disseminated to water utilities, research institutions and water technology providers.
Both the WateReuse Foundation and PUB Singapore are committed to finding solutions to water challenges that plague many countries. The WateReuse Foundation is an educational, non-profit public benefit corporation that serves as a centralized organization for the water community to advance the science of water reuse, recycling, reclamation, and desalination. Both organizations share the goal of developing practical scientific breakthroughs in the water supply field.
Singapore has overcome its water shortages despite its lack of natural resources in just four decades. Driven by a vision of what it takes to be sustainable in water, PUB Singapore has been investing in research and technology. Today, the nation has built a robust, diversified and sustainable water supply from four different sources known as the Four National Taps (water from local catchment areas, imported water, reclaimed water known as NEWater, and desalinated water. In particular, NEWater was borne from its R&D efforts in membrane technology such as microfiltration and reverse osmosis, which allowed for the production of high-quality water from used water.
The mission of the WateReuse Foundation is to conduct and promote applied research on the reclamation, recycling, reuse, and desalination of water. The Foundation's research advances the science of water reuse and supports communities across the United States and abroad in their efforts to create new sources of high quality water. The Foundation's research provides information on the safety and quality of reclaimed and recycled water, and provides water professionals with the tools and knowledge to meet their commitment of increasing the reliability and quality of the nation's water supplies.
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the water agency that manages Singapore's water supply, water catchment and sewerage in an integrated way. PUB won the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award and was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006.
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