PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, has appointed China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Singapore Branch) to construct the Industrial Liquids Modules (ILMs) for the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), which will treat industrial used water channeled to Tuas WRP via the deep sewer tunnels. The contract, which is valued at S$237.6 million (approximately US$177.8 million), includes the civil, structural and architectural works for two ILMs, which will have a treatment capacity of 150,000m3 per day of industrial used water, the equivalent of 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water.
Tuas WRP, a key component of PUB's DTSS Phase 2 project, will be equipped to receive both industrial and domestic used water streams from two separate deep tunnels for treatment. The ILMs adopt the Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system by combining the conventional Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) process with membranes for solids separation. This integration of membranes enables used water to be treated using less space and fewer steps compared to conventional systems, in addition to producing a higher quality treated effluent. The treated effluent from the ILMs will be further purified to industrial water and sent back to the industries for reuse. When completed, this will be the first time that PUB is reclaiming industrial used water for reuse and is a significant step forward in boosting our capability to reclaim and recycle water.
China State Construction Engineering's bid for Tuas WRP's ILMs was one of 11 offers from an open tender exercise in May 2020. The plant and process equipment (i.e. mechanical, electrical and instrumentation components) will be installed through separate contracts. Construction works on the ILMs will commence on 30 December 2020 and the ILMs will be commissioned progressively by December 2025.
When completed, this will be the first time that PUB is reclaiming industrial used water for reuse and is a significant step forward in boosting our capability to reclaim and recycle water
This is the sixth major Tuas WRP construction contract awarded by PUB – the first was awarded to McConnell Dowell South East Asia Private Limited to carry out site development works in January 2019; Koh Brothers Building & Civil Engineering Contractor (Pte.) Ltd. and China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company Pte. Ltd. Joint Venture (JV) were appointed in July 2019 to build the Tuas WRP's Influent Pumping Stations; CES_SDC Pte. Ltd. (a member of Chip Eng Seng Group) clinched the third contract for the plant's biosolids treatment facility in March 2020; Sinohydro Corporation Limited (Singapore Branch) was awarded the contract for the construction of the civil structures of the Domestic Liquids Modules in July 2020; and ABB Pte Ltd was appointed to construct Tuas WRP's Monitoring and Control System in October 2020.
Tuas WRP will have an initial treatment capacity of 800,000m3 per day. The plant will be co-located with the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) to collectively form Tuas Nexus, which integrates used water and solid waste treatment processes to harness various synergies that will improve overall plant performance and optimise land use.
The DTSS Phase 2 is a S$6.5 billion infrastructure project that will enhance Singapore's water sustainability by boosting PUB's capability to reclaim and recycle water in an endless cycle. Upon completion in 2025, DTSS Phase 2 will convey used water from the western part of Singapore to Tuas WRP for treatment. DTSS Phase 1, which covers eastern Singapore and channels used water to Changi WRP, was completed in 2008.