At a ceremony held at the Kallang River @ Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park on 28 March evening, Singapore Refining Company Private Limited, United Microelectronics Corporation (Singapore branch), Carlton City Hotel Singapore, Qifa Primary School and Chung Cheng High School (Main) were presented with the Watermark Awards – Singapore’s pinnacle awards to recognise outstanding contributions and commitment to protect and raise awareness of water as a precious resource.

The five winners have distinguished themselves in water efficiency (demonstrating sustained efforts in the efficient use of water), innovativeness (incorporating new initiatives to reduce water use or promote water recycling) and advocacy (educating others and raising awareness of water conservation).

To help the industry, especially large water users better manage their water use and improve water efficiency, PUB has rolled out the ‘Best Practice Guide for Water Efficiency – Buildings’ and will be launching a similar guide for the wafer fabrication and semiconductor sector, and the refineries, petrochemicals and chemicals sector later this year. For more info on the Best Practice Guide, click here.

Achieving water efficiency in an energy-producing sector 

Following a water audit that was carried out to identify streams for recycling, Singapore Refining Company Private Limited built an on-site effluent treatment recycling plant (ETRP). Through ceramic microfiltration and reverse osmosis, removing suspended solids, oil, grease and other contaminants from the treated used water, the ETRP improves the water quality to NEWater standards for recycling purposes. 

The recycled water is then reused in processes within SRC. The plant currently operates at 2,000m³/day, and can meet approximately 20% of SRC’s NEWater demand. SRC’s recycling rate is at 40%.

United Microelectronics Corporation (Singapore Branch)

Water recycling drives water efficiency 

Committed to environmental protection and water consumption reduction, and as a responsible corporate towards the community and the environment, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) (Singapore Branch) has the second highest water recycling rates in the wafer fabrication sector in Singapore at 61%, while the average for this sector is around 42%. 

UMC’s implementation of the second rinse recycling is commendable and has helped contribute to the high recycling rate.  In 2015, the company built a Hydrofluoric (HF) wastewater treatment plant to treat its wastewater to required standards. Other water saving measures implemented by UMC include: recycling Air Handling Unit condensate water and use of recycled water at local scrubber systems.  

Carlton City Hotel Singapore

Hotel with a difference 

Between 2014 and 2016, Carlton City Hotel Singapore has seen a drop of about 4,233m3 in water consumption. The hotel recovers condensate water from the Air Handling Units and reuses it for the cooling towers. Its remote monitoring system, coupled with a prompt maintenance regime, provides good preventive measures for possible water wastage. 

The hotel also installed three-ticks-rated fittings in their guestrooms and common area toilets, under PUB’s Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS). The hotel also places message cards in rooms to encourage hotel guests to reuse their linens and towels, thus saving water used for laundry. Water conservation posters are displayed prominently within the staff compound to promote 

Qifa Primary School

Water stewardship beyond school’s boundaries 

Qifa Primary School rallies its entire population to report leaky pipes and water wastage as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary water wastage. 

To further reduce water consumption, the school uses self-closing delayed action taps and replaced liquid soap with foam soap as less water is required to rinse off foam, as compared to liquid soap. The school regularly monitors its water use by checking the meter reading for any sudden surge in consumption.

Chung Cheng High School (Main) 

A collective effort to save water 

Chung Cheng High School (Main) has a water efficiency management system implemented in accordance with the requirements in Singapore Standard SS 577, including a systematic process of monitoring water consumption, review the effectiveness of water saving measures taken, communicating and creating awareness on the importance of water conservation to staff and students, and initiating measures to reduce water consumption within the school. 

The school has a fault-reporting system that encourages the staff and students to report faulty water fittings or leaks promptly. All taps in the school premise are self-closing to minimise wastage of water. The use of high pressure water jet is limited to only the washing of key common areas 

Read more about past recipients below:

Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2017 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2016 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2015 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2013 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2012 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2011 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2010 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2009 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2008 [PDF]
Download Watermark Awards Recipients 2007 [PDF]

Download Watermark Awards Commemorative Book (2007 to 2011) [PDF]