Singapore can play role of global water management consultant: expert

By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia
16 January 2007

SINGAPORE: Singapore should share its experience with countries facing shortage of good quality water on how to better manage their water resources.

This was the suggestion of visiting water expert Professor Asit Biswas - winner of the 2006 Stockholm Water Prize, who was here to speak at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

He said besides going into the water treatment business, Singapore should harness its expertise to become a global water management consultant.

He said the way water is managed in the next 20 years will change drastically.

This is because future water problems and their solutions are likely to be very different from the past, or what is being anticipated at present.

"There is no water shortage even in the most water-scarce countries like those of the Middle-East, there is enough water. With the current technology, current economics, current management techniques, we can sit down with any city in the world and show how in about a week, you could provide your people 24-hour drinkable water supply at affordable cost," said Professor Biswas.

Professor Biswas observed that there is a general lack of good water management skills worldwide and this is where Singapore can play its part.

"Singapore has a tremendous opportunity to move into that particular niche and specialise itself in water supply, waste-water treatment so that it can provide advisory services, consulting services and even running services," said Professor Biswas.

Professor Biswas said Singapore should claim a bigger role for itself.

"If I have to criticise Singapore in any way, I think it is not thinking big enough. It knows what it has achieved, but it can do much more both to itself and to the rest of the world, by thinking bigger, by dreaming a much larger dream than the dream it has at present," said Professor Biswas.

Professor Biswas said Singapore should dream of organising an international Water Festival - something similar to the World Economic Forum held in Davos. - CNA /dt